LIAROZOLE FUMARATE INHIBITS THE METABOLISM OF 4-KETO-ALL-TRANS-RETINOIC ACID

The metabolism of 4-keto-all-trans-retinoic-acid (4-keto-RA), a biolog ically active oxygenated metabolite of all-trans-retinoic (RA), has be en examined. In vitro, incubation of [C-14]4-keto-RA with hamster live r microsomes in the presence of NADPH produced two major radioactive m etabolites which were more polar than the parent compound. Following i solation, appropriate derivatization and analysis by GC-MS, these comp ounds were tentatively identified as 2-hydroxy- and 3-hydroxy-4-ketore tinoic acid. Formation of both hydroxy-keto derivatives was suppressed by the imidazole-containing P450 inhibitor liarozole fumarate (IC50, 1.3 mu M). In vivo, and i.v. injection of 4-keto-RA (20 mu g) into rat s was followed by rapid disappearance of the retinoid from plasma with a half-life of 7 min. Pretreatment with liarozole fumarate (40 mg/kg, -60 min) reduced the elimination rate of 4-keto-RA: it prolonged the plasma half-life of the retinoid to 12 min, without affecting its dist ribution volume. These results indicate the important role of the P450 enzyme system in the metabolism of 4-keto-RA both in vitro and in viv o. The inhibitory effect of liarazole fumarate on this metabolic proce ss may contribute to the reported retinoid-mimetic activity of this dr ug.