Applications of the Cholesterol Metabolite, 4β-Hydroxycholesterol, as a Sensitive Endogenous Biomarker for Hepatic CYP3A Activity Evaluated within a PBPK Framework

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Plasma levels of 4β-hydroxycholesterol (4β-OHC), a CYP3A-specific metabolite of cholesterol, are elevated after administration of CYP3A inducers like rifampicin and carbamazepine. To simulate such plasma 4β-OHC increase, we developed a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of cholesterol and 4β-OHC in the Simcyp PBPK Simulator (Version 23, Certara UK Ltd.) using a middle-out approach. <b>Methods:</b> Relevant physicochemical properties and metabolic pathway data for CYP3A and CYP27A1 was incorporated in the model. <b>Results:</b> The PBPK model recovered the observed baseline plasma 4β-OHC levels in Caucasian, Japanese, and Korean populations. The model also captured the higher baseline 4β-OHC levels in females compared to males, indicative of sex-specific differences in CYP3A abundance. More importantly, the model recapitulated the increased 4β-OHC plasma levels after multiple-dose rifampicin treatment in six independent studies, indicative of hepatic CYP3A induction. The verified model also captured the altered 4β-OHC levels in CYP3A4/5 polymorphic populations and with other CYP3A inducers. The model is limited by scant data on relative contributions of CYP3A and CYP27A1 pathways and does not account for regulatory mechanisms that control plasma cholesterol and 4β-OHC levels. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study provides a quantitative fit-for-purpose and framed-for-future modelling framework for an endogenous biomarker to evaluate the DDI risk with hepatic CYP3A induction.