BACKGROUND: The rationale for this study was to assess the expression, activity and localization of the enzymes uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), β-glucuronidase, cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) in first trimester human placenta and to gauge the effects of maternal variables on placental metabolism. METHODS: CYP1A, CYP2E1, UGT and β-glucuronidase activities were assessed in 25 placentas using ethoxyresorufin, chlorzoxazone, 4-methylumbelliferone and 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronide respectively. Protein expression and localization were detected by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. All statistics were non-parametric. RESULTS: UGT, β-glucuronidase and CYP1A activities were detected in all placentas sampled; CYP2E1 was undetectable. CYP1A, UGT1A UGT2B proteins were detected in all placentas (n = 6) tested and CYP2E1 in 4/6 placentas sampled and were localized to the syncytium. UGT and CYP1A activities were significantly elevated in the placentas of mothers who smoked (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) and were greatest in women who both smoked and drank alcohol (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). Enzyme activities were significantly negatively correlated with gestational age (P < 0.05, r = 0.54, UGT) and maternal age respectively (P < 0.001, r = 0.63, CYP1A). β-Glucuronidase activity did not differ with patient variables. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolism of compounds by the human placenta in the first trimester may be affected by maternal and environmental factors altering the activity of constitutive metabolizing enzymes.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are critical for the metabolism and clearance of drugs, chemicals, and hormones. The development of UGT1A1 and 1A6 was studied in 50 pediatric liver samples using bilirubin, serotonin activity assays, and Western blot as well as pharmacokinetic scaling. UGT activity developed age dependently in pediatric liver. Maximal activity of 0.7690 nmol · min · ⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹ was observed for UGT1A1 at 3.8 months. For UGT1A6, activity matured at 14 months (4.737 nmol · min · ⁻¹mg protein⁻¹). Protein expression was not age-dependent, and activities did not correlate to protein levels for either enzyme. The in vitro activities were used to calculate normalized hepatic clearances using both allometric scaling and a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model. For UGT1A1, allometry predicted normalized adult clearances of 0.0070 l · h⁻¹ · kg⁻¹ at 3.0 (well stirred) and 2.8 years (parallel tube), whereas the Simcyp model showed normalized clearances of 0.0079 l · h⁻¹ · kg⁻¹ at 2.6 (well stirred) and 2.5 years (parallel tube). For UGT1A6, only the Simcyp well stirred model converged at 0.3524 l · h⁻¹ · kg⁻¹ at 12.6 months. These data imply independent regulation of UGT1A1 and 1A6 where activity has matured after 6 months to 1 year. Total hepatic clearance of substances mediated by these enzymes may mature concurrently or take longer because of other physiological factors. Late development of UGT enzymes may contribute to chemical, drug, and environmental toxicity.

This article reports on the development of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme activity in pediatric livers. The substrates 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) and trifluoperazine (TFP) were used as probes for general glucuronidation and specific UGT1A4 activity, respectively. The activity of hepatic β-glucuronidase enzymes was also determined so as to investigate the balance between glucuronide clearance and systemic recirculation. UGT activity toward 4MU reached maximum levels by 20 months of age, whereas the activity of β-glucuronidase was highest in the neonatal liver and decreased to steady-state adult levels by 4 months. The average V_max and K_m values for UGT1A4 in pediatric samples were 151.9 ± 63.5 pmol/min/mg protein and 14.4 ± 9.6 μM, respectively. Average V_max was understandably low because of developmental dynamics, but K_m was similar to values reported elsewhere. When a constant rate of enzyme development is assumed, maximum activity of UGT1A4 occurs at 1.4 years of age. When the intrinsic hepatic clearance of TFP was scaled with an allometric model, hepatic clearance of TFP by UGT1A4 did not reach maximum levels until 18.9 years of age and scaled results underestimated reported in vivo clearances in adult males. No significant differences in UGT activities or hepatic clearance were observed with gender or ethnicity. The developmental dynamics of most drug-metabolizing enzymes are unknown, and this article contains, to our knowledge, the first description of the development of a single UGT isoform in childhood. Ultimately, work such as this is important for predicting drug responses and for developing and evaluating new medications in children.