Metabolism of clozapine by human neutrophils: evidence for a specific oxidation of clozapine by the myeloperoxidase system with inhibition of enzymatic chlorination cycle.

The use of clozapine, an unique antipsychotic drug, raises the real problem of drug-induced polymorphonuclear neutrophil cytotoxicity. Clozapine prescription has been restricted due to a 1-2% incidence of drug-induced agranulocytosis. The exact mechanism of this adverse effect is not yet known. The myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide system could play a key role in the initiation of agranulocytosis. Therefore, we have investigated the clozapine effects on hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid, evaluated the peroxidase-mediated metabolism of clozapine by mass spectrometry analysis because myeloperoxidase uses hydrogen peroxide and chloride producing hypochlorous acid in its chlorination cycle, and thus could oxidise clozapine in its peroxidation cycle. First, evidence for inhibition of hypochlorous acid production and scavenging of hydrogen peroxide by clozapine were demonstrated in vitro, in different cell-free and cellular systems. Results are consistent with an inhibition of the myeloperoxidase chlorination cycle when clozapine is oxidised in the peroxidation cycle. Secondly, ion-spray mass spectrometry analysis allowed us to confirm clozapine oxidation by the myeloperoxidase system. Actually, clozapine N-oxide with a m/z at 343 was formed. It could be the final step of the metabolisation of clozapine via two successive univalent oxidations mediated by peroxidase. We suggest that generation of a free cation radical, CLZ(o+), was the initial step. CLZ(o+) is a very reactive species and may play an important role in the onset of agranulocytosis either by direct toxicity or via an immunological mechanism. However, this assumption does not exclude the possible role of other metabolic ways involving, in particular, N-desmethylclozapine.