Metabolism of megestrol acetate in vitro and the role of oxidative metabolites

Larry House, Michael J. Seminerio, Snezana Mirkov, Jacqueline Ramirez, Maxwell Skor, Joseph R. Sachleben, Masis Isikbay, Hari Singhal, Geoffrey L. Greene, Donald Vander Griend, Suzanne D. Conzen, Mark J. Ratain

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. There is limited knowledge regarding the metabolism of megestrol acetate (MA), as it was approved by FDA in 1971, prior to the availability of modern tools for identifying specific drug-metabolizing enzymes. We determined the cytochrome P450s (P450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) that metabolize MA, identified oxidative metabolites and determined pharmacologic activity at the progesterone, androgen and glucocorticoid receptors (PR, AR and GR, respectively). 2. Oxidative metabolites were produced using human liver microsomes (HLMs), and isolated for mass spectral (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. We screened recombinant P450s using MA at 62 μM (HLM Km for metabolite 1; M1) and 28 μM (HLM Km for metabolite 2; M2). UGT isoforms were simultaneously incubated with UDPGA, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), CYP3A4 and MA. Metabolites were evaluated for pharmacologic activity on the PR, AR and GR. CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 are responsible for oxidative metabolism of 62 μM MA. 3. At 28 μM substrate concentration, CYP3A4 was the only contributing enzyme. Mass spectral and NMR data suggest metabolism of MA to two alcohols. After oxidation, MA is converted into two secondary glucuronides by UGT2B17 among other UGTs. MA, M1 and M2 had significant pharmacologic activity on the PR while only MA showed activity on the AR and GR.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)973-983
Number of pages11
JournalXenobiotica
Volume48
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 3 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Androgen receptor
  • drug interaction
  • glucocorticoid receptor
  • megestrol acetate
  • metabolite activity
  • metabolite structure
  • progesterone receptor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Metabolism of megestrol acetate in vitro and the role of oxidative metabolites'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this