The influence of cytochrome P450 enzyme activity on the composition and quantity of volatile organics in expired breath

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Abstract
We have previously described a method to capture, identify and quantify volatile components in expired breath. The purpose of this research is to provide a non-invasive means to measure biomarkers of metabolism in vivo. In the present studies, the effect of 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT), an inhibitor of diverse cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, on the composition of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) expired in the breath of male F-344 rats was determined in parallel with the catalytic activities and total content of hepatic P450. lntraperitoneal administration of ABT (100 mg kg-(1)) to rats resulted in markedly diminished hepatic microsomal P450 content and activities. The extent of inhibition was near maximal at 4 h, at which time approximately 50% of the total P450 content, about 65% of the CYPlA2 activity, 55% of the CYP2E1 activity, and about 80% of CYP2B activity were lost. Inhibition was maintained to 48 h post-dosing, but P450 content and activities had largely been restored by day 7. Concomitant with the inhibition of P450 were corresponding increases (up to several hundred-fold) in the molar amount of volatiles appearing in the breath of ABT-treated animals, and the rebound of P450 levels was attended by corresponding decreases in the appearance of breath volatiles. These studies indicate that P450 plays a major role in the metabolism of VOCs appearing in breath, and that these chemicals can serve as markers on P450 activity in vivo.