Plasma Exosomes and Drug Metabolic Cytochrome P450 Enzymes

Abstract

The major drug metabolic enzymes, Cytochromes P450 (CYP), are abundantly present in hepatocytes, and to some extent in other extrahepatic cells such as monocytes. Since these enzymes metabolize the majority of xenobiotics leading to formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and some toxic metabolites, hepatocytes and monocytes could produce extracellular vesicles such as exosomes. The exosomes produced by the liver and blood cells eventually secrete into the plasma, which may contain high levels of exosomes containing CYP enzymes. The level of plasma exosomal CYP enzymes may also be induced under certain conditions. Therefore, plasma exosomal CYP may be used as biological markers, as well as biocatalysts for various purposes in medicine, bioremediation, and industrial synthesis. This editorial briefly describes this novel and exciting area of research in the field of exosomes, and their potential as biomarkers and in therapy.