Cytochrome P450 3As gene expression and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity in human fetal membranes and placenta at full term.

Kayoko Maezawa, Tamihide Matsunaga, Takashi Takezawa, Makoto Kanai, Satoshi Ohira, Shigeru Ohmori

Department of Pharmacy, Shinshu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.

Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 2010 Feb

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Expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 mRNAs in placentas and fetal membranes, which were split into amnion and chorion leave attached decidua (chorion/decidua), obtained from pregnant women with normal delivery (5 subjects) and Caesarean section (15 subjects) were determined. These CYP3A mRNAs were also expressed in amnion and chorion/decidua together with placenta, although the expression level of these mRNAs was strikingly different between subjects. The expression level of the CYP3A4 mRNA in the placenta was about 2-fold higher than those in amnion and chorion/decidua. On the other hand, the expression levels of CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 mRNAs were highest in chorion/decidua. The immunologically related protein(s) with CYP3A7 was detected in all tissues examined. Testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity in homogenate of human placenta, amnion and chorion/decidua were 26.6, 3.7 and 4.6 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively. These results suggest that CYP3As in fetal membranes have the metabolic function to protect the fetus from exposure to drugs.

Citation

Kayoko Maezawa, Tamihide Matsunaga, Takashi Takezawa, Makoto Kanai, Satoshi Ohira, Shigeru Ohmori. Cytochrome P450 3As gene expression and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity in human fetal membranes and placenta at full term. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin. 2010 Feb;33(2):249-54