Effect of histon deacetylase inhibitors on the phenotype of hepatocytes in culture, and study of the biotransformation.

Hepatocytes and their cultures are important in vitro models in the pre-clinical development of new drugs. They are used to elucidate biotransformation patterns, species differences, detoxification-toxification mechanisms, drug-drug interactions and induction phenomena;
The aim of this investigation is
a) investigate whether soluble medium factors, belonging to the group of histone deacetylase inhibitors and inhibiting selectively a number of steps in the cell cycle have an effet on the differentiated phenotype, namely biotransformation of xenobiotics, of adult hepatocytes in culture
b) elucidate the biotransformation pattern of TSA and its structure analogues which are under development as human drugs, through the use of hepatocytes and their cultures.