Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology
-
CYP2E1 and CYP4A11 are cytochrome P450 enzymes that are regulated by physiological conditions including diabetes and fasting. In addition, the xenochemical clofibrate has been reported to induce both rodent CYP2E1 and CYP4A. These findings suggest similar modes of regulation. ⋯ Palmitic acid significantly (p < 0.05) increased CYP2E1 mRNA to 326 +/- 57% of control. Collectively, results presented here identify agents that enhance CYP2E1 and CYP4A11 at the transcription level and suggest that fatty acids may represent a similar mode of regulation for these P450 enzymes. The lack of induction of CYP2E1 protein by ethanol in human hepatocytes indicates that for certain P450 enzymes, isolated hepatocytes may not be an adequate tool for predicting in vivo responses.