Expression of Cytochrome P450 1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2E1 and 3A4 in Human Brain

We have carried out PCR reactions to investigate if cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes (1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2E1 and 3A4), which are well hewn to be the key enzymes in detoxification process and/or synthesis of steroids in the liver, are expressed in the human brain, too. P450 1A1, 2C8 and 2E1 were expressed clearly. However, P450 1A2 and 3A4 were not detectable. Their expression levels in the human brain could be extremely low or they were not expressed at all. One base substitution at nucleotide 290 (A->G) was identified in P450 1A1. It is suspected to be an individual polymorphism. Our results should contribute to the better understanding of the role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the human brain.