Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) on cytochromes P450 activity
assessed by the Geneva cocktail.
Abstract
Background and purpose Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by
SARS-CoV-2 infection, is a severe acute respiratory syndrome with an
underlying inflammatory state. We have previously demonstrated that
acute inflammation modulates cytochromes P450 (CYP) activities in an
isoform-specific manner. We therefore hypothesized that COVID-19 might
also impact CYP activities, and thus aimed to evaluate the impact of
acute inflammation in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the six
main human CYPs activity. Experimental Approach This prospective
observational study was conducted in 28 patients hospitalized at the
Geneva University Hospitals (Switzerland) with a diagnosis of moderate
to severe COVID-19. They received the Geneva phenotyping cocktail orally
during the first 72h of hospitalization and after three months.
Capillary blood samples were collected 2h after cocktail administration
to assess the metabolic ratios (MRs) of CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and
3A. CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were also measured in blood. Key Results
CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP3A MRs decreased by 52.6% (p=0.0001), 74.7%
(p=0.0006) and 22.8% (p=0.045), respectively, in COVID-19 patients.
CYP2B6 and CYP2C9 MRs increased by 101.1% (p=0.009) and 55.8%
(p=0.0006) respectively. CYP2D6 MRs variation did not reach statistical
significance (p=0.072). As expected, COVID-19 was a good acute
inflammation model as mean serum levels of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were
significantly (p<0.001) higher during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Conclusion and implications CYP activities are modulated in an
isoform-specific manner by SARS-CoV-2 infection. The pharmacokinetics of
CYP substrates, whether used to treat the disease or as the usual
treatment of patients, could be therefore clinically impacted.