Role of cytochrome P4502E1 activation in proximal tubular cell injury induced by hydrogen peroxide

ackground. There is now good evidence to suggest that cytochrome P450 (CYP450) may act as an iron‐donating catalyst for the production of hydroxyl ion (OH ·), which contributes to proximal tubular cell injury. However, it remains unclear which isoform of CYP450 is involved in this process. Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) is a highly labile isoform which is not only involved in free radical generation, but has also been shown to be a source of iron in cisplatin‐induced renal injury. This study investigates the role of CYP2E1 in the proximal tubular cell injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2). Methods. Porcine proximal tubular cells (LLC‐PK1) were incubated with H 2O 2 (1 mM) for 4 h in the presence or absence of 0.1 mM of two CYP2E1 inhibitors; diallyl sulfide (DAS), or disulfiram (DSF), desferrioxamine (DFO) (0.1–0.4 mM), or catalase (CT) (78, 150, 300 U/mL). Cell death was determined by measuring LDH release. CYP2E1 activity was determined by p‐nitrophenol hydroxylation after 2 h incubation with H 2O 2. Results. Exposure of LLC‐PK1 to H 2O 2 significantly increased cell death. CT, DFO, DAS and DSF significantly reduced H 2O 2‐mediated cell death. Incubation with H 2O 2 increased CYP2E1 activation in time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, which was significantly reduced by CT, DFO, DAS and DSF. Conclusion. We propose that CYP2E1 activation occurs possibly due to OH · and contributes to H 2O 2‐mediated LLC‐PK1 cell necrosis by acting as a source of iron and perpetuating the generation of OH · via the Fenton reaction. Inhibition of CYP2E1 may be a novel approach for the prevention of tubular injury caused by oxidative stress.