Hepatic expression of cytochrome P450 in type 2 diabetic Goto–Kakizaki rats

Although hepatic expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) changes markedly in diabetes, the role of ketone bodies in the regulation of CYP in diabetes is controversial. The present study was performed to determine the expression and activity of CYP in non-obese type II diabetic Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rats with normal levels of ketone bodies. In the present study, basal serum glucose levels increased 1.95-fold in GK rats, but acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate levels were not significantly different. Hepatic expression of CYP reductase and CYP3A2 was up-regulated in the GK rats, and consequently, activities of CYP reductase and midazolam 4-hydroxylase, mainly catalyzed by CYP3A2, increased. In contrast, hepatic expression of CYP1A2 and CYP3A1 was down-regulated and the activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and 7-methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase, mainly catalyzed by CYP1A, also decreased in GK rats. Hepatic levels of microsomal protein and total CYP and hepatic expression of cytochrome b5, CYP1B1, CYP2B1 and CYP2C11 were not significantly different between the GK rats and normal Wistar rats. Moreover, the expression and activity of CYP2E1, reported to be up-regulated in diabetes with hyperketonemia, were not significantly different between GK rats and control rats, suggesting that elevation of ketone bodies plays a critical role in the up-regulation of hepatic CYP2E1 in diabetic rats. Our results showed that the expression of hepatic CYP is regulated in an isoform-specific manner. The present results also show that the GK rat is a useful animal model for the pathophysiological study of non-obese type II diabetes with normal ketone body levels.

► CYP2E1 has reported to be up-regulated in diabetes with hyperketonemia.
► We examined regulation of CYP2E1 in diabetic GK rats with normal ketone bodies level.
► The expression and activity of CYP2E1 were not different between GK rats and control.
► The elevation of ketone bodies plays a critical role in the up-regulation of CYP2E1.