Monoclonal antibodies inhibitory to rat hepatic cytochromes P-450: P-450 form specificities and use as probes for cytochrome P-450-dependent steroid hydroxylations.

Cytochrome P-450 (P-450) form specificities were established for a total of nine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised to four distinct rat hepatic P-450 enzymes (P-450s 2c, PB-2a, PB-4, and BNF-B), using a combination of enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis, dot immunoblotting, Western blotting, Ouchterlony immunodiffusion, and immunoinhibition analyses. Four of the MAbs were fully (greater than or equal to 85%) inhibitory toward the corresponding immunoreactive P-450s when assayed in purified, reconstituted enzyme systems, while two of the MAbs were partially inhibitory, with a maximum of 50 or 80% inhibition achieved in the presence of saturating MAb. Inhibitory MAbs reactive with P-450s 2c, 3, and PB-4, respectively, were used to demonstrate that the formation of multiple hydroxytestosterone metabolites by each of the respective purified P-450 enzymes is reflective of their inherent catalytic specificities and not due to the presence of immunochemical distinguishable P-450 enzyme contaminants. P-450 form-specific contributions to rat hepatic microsomal steroid hormone hydroxylase activities were then assessed using the inhibitory MAbs as probes. MAb-reactive P-450 2c was shown to be the major (greater than or equal to 85%) catalyst of microsomal testosterone and androstenedione 16 alpha-hydroxylation in both untreated and beta-naphthoflavone-induced rats. However, this P-450 form catalyzed only approximately 30% of hepatic microsomal steroid 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity in phenobarbital-induced adult males, and less than or equal to 10% of steroid 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity in (phenobarbital-induced immature males or adult females, where the balance of 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity is catalyzed by MAb-reactive P-450 PB-4. Although MAb-reactive P-450 PB-4 catalyzed the majority (greater than or equal to 90%) of microsomal androstenedione 16 beta-hydroxylation in phenobarbital-induced rats, this P-450 enzyme did not contribute to the low level 16 beta-hydroxylase activity of uninduced liver samples. Finally, MAb-reactive P-450 3 catalyzed at least 85% of microsomal androstenedione 7 alpha-hydroxylation, independent of the age, sex, or induction status of the animals used as source of liver microsomes. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of MAbs as probes for the contributions of individual P-450 enzymes to the metabolism of steroid hormones susceptible to hydroxylation at multiple sites.