No abstract

We used immortalized human hepatocytes to study the bioactivation of leflunomide and the metabolic degradation to its major metabolite, A77 1726. Both leflunomide and A77 1726 caused a time- and concentration-dependent increase in LDH release. The cytotoxicity of leflunomide, but not that of A77 1726, was prevented by the pan-CYP inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole, indicating that an oxidative metabolite(s) was responsible for the cell injury. LC/MS/MS analysis revealed that leflunomide was rapidly degraded in hepatocytes biphasically (t((1/2))(a) = 1.5 h, t((1/2)) >24 h), but much slower in cell-free medium (t((1/2)) >24 h). In contrast, the generation of A77 1726 occurred at a similar rate in cells and cell-free systems. In conclusion, leflunomide was rapidly metabolized in human hepatocytes to A77 1726, but its toxicity was dependent on other, CYP-dependent intermediates.