Effects of light and dark beer on hepatic cytochrome P-450 expression in male rats receiving alcoholic beverages as part of total enteral nutrition

Background: Alcoholic beverages contain many congeners in addition to ethanol. Therefore, consumption of alcoholic beverages may have considerably different effects on expression of hepatic microsomal monooxygenases than the relatively selective induction of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2E1 observed after consumption of pure ethanol. Methods: In the current study, we compared the effects of two beers: lager (a light roasted beer) and stout (a dark roasted beer) with those of an equivalent amount of pure ethanol on hepatic CYP expression, Beer or pure ethanol was part of a complete total enteral nutrition diet that was infused intragastrically into male Sprague Dawley rats for 21 days. At the end of the infusion period, rats were euthanized, and liver and intestinal microsomes were prepared. Expression and activity of CYP1A1/2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP3A. and CYP4A were assessed by Western immunoblotting and by using CYP enzyme-specific substrates, respectively. Results: mRNA and protein levels of CYP4A1 were elevated only in stout-treated animals. However, lauric acid 12-hydroxylase activity (a CYP4A-specific activity) was reduced (p <= 0.05) in microsomes from lager- and stout-fed rats. After oxidation with potassium ferricyanide, this activity was significantly increased in microsomes from stout-fed animals. The relative expression of CYP2E1 and CYP2B1 and the activities toward p-nitrophenol, pentoxyresorufin, or benzyloxyresorufin did not differ between beers or compared with pure ethanol or controls. However, the mean expression of CYP1A2, CYP3A and CYP4A apoproteins was greater in liver microsomes from stout-infused rats than in those from lager-infused rats, ethanol-infused rats, and diet controls (p <= 0.05). In addition, although no significant differences were observed in ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD), methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (M ROD), midazolam, or testosterone hydroxylase activities between groups, stout-infused rats had greater hepatic microsomal erythromycin N-demethylase activity than other groups (p <= 0.05). Conclusions: Stout contains components other than ethanol that interact in a complex fashion with the monooxygenase system.