ABSTRACT:In humans, indirect evidence suggests that hypoxia reduces the rate of biotransformation of drugs cleared by cytochrome P450 (P450) subfamilies CYP1A, 2B, and 2C. The aim of this study was to assess whether acute moderate hypoxia modulates the expression of CYP2B4, 2C5, and 2C16 in vivo, and to determine whether the changes in hepatic P450 are conveyed by serum mediators. Moreover, because hypoxia increases the expression of P-glycoprotein in vitro, we examined whether in vivo acute moderate hypoxia modulates the expression of several membrane transporters in the liver. Rabbits and rats were exposed to a fractional concentration of oxygen of 8% for 48 h to generate a stable arterial partial pressure of O 2 of 34 ؎ 1 mm Hg. Compared with rabbits breathing room air, hypoxia in rabbits reduced the amount of CYP1A1, 1A2, 2B4, 2C5, and 2C16 proteins and increased the expression of CYP3A6. Sera of rabbits with hypoxia were fractionated by size exclusion chromatography, the fractions were tested for their ability to modify the expression of P450 isoforms, and serum mediators were identified through neutralization experiments. The serum mediators responsible for the downregulation of P450 isoforms were interferon-␥, interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-2. In vivo, in rats, hypoxia increased the mRNA and protein expression of P-glycoprotein but did not affect the mRNA of breast cancer resistance protein and organic anion-transporting polypeptide 2. It is concluded that in vivo, hypoxia down-regulates rabbit hepatic CYP1A1, 1A2, 2B4, 2C5, and 2C16 and up-regulates CYP3A6. CYP3A11 and P-glycoprotein were up-regulated in the livers of hypoxic rats.In patients with cardiorespiratory diseases, acute hypoxemia appears to reduce the ability of cytochrome P450 isoforms to catalyze the biotransformation of xenobiotics. Patients with pulmonary insufficiency who show an impairment of their general state present an increased incidence of adverse effects, e.g., grand mal seizures, associated with the administration of "usual" doses of theophylline. Theophylline clearance is significantly reduced in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (Piafsky et al., 1977) and in patients with worsening airway obstruction, severe bronchial obstruction, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia (Vozeh et al., 1978).In humans, at therapeutic concentrations, the biotransformation of theophylline is primarily catalyzed by CYP1A2, whereas CYP2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 exhibit low affinity and variable capacity (Ha et al., 1995). Rabbits exposed to a fractional concentration of inspired O 2 (FiO 2 ) of 10% for 24 h demonstrate a reduced clearance of theophylline and decreased expression of CYP1A1 and 1A2, although the expression of CYP3A6 is increased (Kurdi et al., 1999). In rabbits subjected to acute moderate hypoxia, hepatic down-regulation of CYP1A1 and 1A2 is triggered by serum mediators, e.g., interferon-␥ (IFN-␥), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and IL-1; the up-regulation of CYP3A6 is, at least in part, associated with erythropoietin (Epo) (Fradette et ...