Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation

Human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the brain represent a crucial frontier in neuroscience, with far-reaching implications for drug detoxification, cellular metabolism, and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The brain’s complex architecture, composed of interconnected cell types and r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pradeepraj Durairaj, Zixiang Leonardo Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Xenobiotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/2/44
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850180071759806464
author Pradeepraj Durairaj
Zixiang Leonardo Liu
author_facet Pradeepraj Durairaj
Zixiang Leonardo Liu
author_sort Pradeepraj Durairaj
collection DOAJ
description Human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the brain represent a crucial frontier in neuroscience, with far-reaching implications for drug detoxification, cellular metabolism, and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The brain’s complex architecture, composed of interconnected cell types and receptors, drives unique neuronal signaling pathways, modulates enzyme functions, and leads to distinct CYP gene expression and regulation patterns compared to the liver. Despite their relatively low levels of expression, brain CYPs exert significant influence on drug responses, neurotoxin susceptibility, behavior, and neurological disease risk. These enzymes are essential for maintaining brain homeostasis, mediating cholesterol turnover, and synthesizing and metabolizing neurochemicals, neurosteroids, and neurotransmitters. Moreover, they are key participants in oxidative stress responses, neuroprotection, and the regulation of inflammation. In addition to their roles in metabolizing psychotropic drugs, substances of abuse, and endogenous compounds, brain CYPs impact drug efficacy, safety, and resistance, underscoring their importance beyond traditional drug metabolism. Their involvement in critical physiological processes also links them to neuroprotection, with significant implications for the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the roles of cerebral CYP enzymes is vital for advancing neuroprotective strategies, personalizing treatments for brain disorders, and developing CNS-targeting therapeutics. This review explores the emerging roles of CYP enzymes, particularly those within the CYP1–3 and CYP46 families, highlighting their functional diversity and the pathological consequences of their dysregulation on neurological health. It also examines the potential of cerebral CYP-based biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, offering new avenues for therapeutic innovation.
format Article
id doaj-art-ca2c48ae92a94eca948d81137b5303ca
institution OA Journals
issn 2039-4705
2039-4713
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Xenobiotics
spelling doaj-art-ca2c48ae92a94eca948d81137b5303ca2025-08-20T02:18:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Xenobiotics2039-47052039-47132025-03-011524410.3390/jox15020044Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic RegulationPradeepraj Durairaj0Zixiang Leonardo Liu1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USADepartment of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USAHuman cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the brain represent a crucial frontier in neuroscience, with far-reaching implications for drug detoxification, cellular metabolism, and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The brain’s complex architecture, composed of interconnected cell types and receptors, drives unique neuronal signaling pathways, modulates enzyme functions, and leads to distinct CYP gene expression and regulation patterns compared to the liver. Despite their relatively low levels of expression, brain CYPs exert significant influence on drug responses, neurotoxin susceptibility, behavior, and neurological disease risk. These enzymes are essential for maintaining brain homeostasis, mediating cholesterol turnover, and synthesizing and metabolizing neurochemicals, neurosteroids, and neurotransmitters. Moreover, they are key participants in oxidative stress responses, neuroprotection, and the regulation of inflammation. In addition to their roles in metabolizing psychotropic drugs, substances of abuse, and endogenous compounds, brain CYPs impact drug efficacy, safety, and resistance, underscoring their importance beyond traditional drug metabolism. Their involvement in critical physiological processes also links them to neuroprotection, with significant implications for the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the roles of cerebral CYP enzymes is vital for advancing neuroprotective strategies, personalizing treatments for brain disorders, and developing CNS-targeting therapeutics. This review explores the emerging roles of CYP enzymes, particularly those within the CYP1–3 and CYP46 families, highlighting their functional diversity and the pathological consequences of their dysregulation on neurological health. It also examines the potential of cerebral CYP-based biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, offering new avenues for therapeutic innovation.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/2/44cytochrome P450xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymesbrainneurological healthneurochemistryneurodegeneration
spellingShingle Pradeepraj Durairaj
Zixiang Leonardo Liu
Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation
Journal of Xenobiotics
cytochrome P450
xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes
brain
neurological health
neurochemistry
neurodegeneration
title Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation
title_full Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation
title_fullStr Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation
title_full_unstemmed Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation
title_short Brain Cytochrome P450: Navigating Neurological Health and Metabolic Regulation
title_sort brain cytochrome p450 navigating neurological health and metabolic regulation
topic cytochrome P450
xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes
brain
neurological health
neurochemistry
neurodegeneration
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/2/44
work_keys_str_mv AT pradeeprajdurairaj braincytochromep450navigatingneurologicalhealthandmetabolicregulation
AT zixiangleonardoliu braincytochromep450navigatingneurologicalhealthandmetabolicregulation