Heterologous expression of high-activity cytochrome P450 in mammalian cells

The evaluation of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymatic activity is essential to estimate drug pharmacokinetics. Numerous CYP allelic variants have been identified; the functional characterisation of these variants is required for their application in precision medicine. Results from heterologous expression systems using mammalian cells can be integrated in in vivo studies; however, other systems such as E. coli, bacteria, yeast, and baculoviruses are generally used owing to the difficulty in expressing high CYP levels in mammalian cells. Here, by optimising transfection and supplementing conditions, we developed a heterologous expression system using 293FT cells to evaluate the enzymatic activities of three CYP isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4). Moreover, we established co-expression with cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase and cytochrome b₅. This expression system would be a potential complementary or beneficial alternative approach for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of clinically used and developing drugs in vitro.