The role of placental carbonyl reducing enzymes in biotransformation of bupropion and 4-methylnitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone

Background: Bupropion (BUP) has a potential to be an effective pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy stimulates placental carbonyl reductases that catalyze the biotransformation of BUP. 4-methylnitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent carcinogen of cigarette smoke. Carbonyl reduction of NNK into 4-methylnitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) constitutes a major step in NNK detoxification. Thus, placentas of pregnant smokers on BUP therapy can become a site of drug-drug interaction. Therefore, we investigated the effect of continuous exposure to BUP and cigarette smoke on the activity of placental carbonyl reductases in the formation of NNAL from NNK. Methods: The reductive metabolism of NNK was determined using microsomal and cytosolic subcellular fractions of placentas obtained from non-smoking women treated with BUP for depression, and women not exposed to BUP: non-smokers (control) and smokers. The effect of BUP and its metabolites on the reductive metabolism of NNK was investigated using subcellular fractions of control placentas. Results: The formation of NNAL from NNK by placental cytosolic fractions of heavy smokers (≥20 cigarettes per day) was lower than that of control (12.1±3.5 nmol.mgP-1 vs 16.5±6.0 nmol.mgP-1, P<0.05). While exposure to BUP did not affect the activity of placental carbonyl reductases, the formation of NNAL in the placental cytosolic fraction was decreased only in the presence of high concentrations of BUP metabolites. Conclusion: Smoking during pregnancy decrease the detoxifying capacity of soluble carbonyl reductases towards NNK. Given the experimental conditions, exposure to BUP and its metabolites should not impede the reductive metabolism of NNK by placenta in vivo.