Use of uptake intrinsic clearance from attached rat hepatocytes to predict hepatic clearance for poorly permeable compounds

1. We previously reported that the accuracy of clearance (CL) prediction could be differentiated by permeability. CL was drastically under-predicted by in vitro metabolic intrinsic clearance (CL_int) for compounds with low permeability (<5?×?10^?6 cm/s).

2. We determined apparent uptake CL_int by measuring initial disappearance from medium using attached rat hepatocytes and metabolic CL_int by measuring parent depletion in suspended rat hepatocytes (cells and medium).

3. Uptake and metabolic CL_int were comparable for highly permeable metabolic marker compounds. In contrast, uptake CL_int was 3- to 40-fold higher than metabolic CL_int for rosuvastatin, bosentan, and 15 proprietary compounds, which had low permeability, suggesting that uptake could be a rate-determining step in hepatic elimination for these poorly permeable compounds.

4. The prediction of hepatic CL was improved significantly when using uptake CL_int for the compounds with low permeability. The average fold error was 2.2 and 6, as opposed to >11 and >47 by metabolic CL_int, with and without applying a scaling factor of 4, respectively.

5. Uptake CL_int from attached hepatocytes can be used as an alternative approach to predict hepatic clearance and to understand the significance of hepatic uptake in elimination in an early drug discovery setting.

     

Prediction of clinical CYP3A4 induction using cryopreserved human hepatocytes

1. The purpose of this study was to construct a method to predict CYP3A4 induction in the clinical setting from in vitro data using cryopreserved human hepatocytes.

2. We recently developed an approach with in vitro assays of HepaRG cell lines for predicting CYP3A4 induction by using a novel value, termed the relative factor (RF), determined from the ratio of the concentration of an inducer to the reference standard. In this study, the applicability of the RF approach was expanded to cryopreserved human hepatocytes.

3. Induction assays were performed in vitro using hepatocytes from four individual donors and eight typical inducers. The obtained RF values were related to the free plasma concentration of each inducer (expressed as Css,u/RF).

4. A good relationship between the Css,u/RF values and the in vivo induction response was found for all donors. Inducers were classified by the Css,u/RF values into three categories for CYP3A4 induction risk (high, medium and low potency), and thereby the degree of CYP3A4 induction in vivo in humans could be predicted from the Css,u/RF values.

5. The RF approach is applicable to human cryopreserved hepatocytes. Thus, a method to predict the potency of CYP3A4 inducers was constructed using cryopreserved human hepatocytes.

     

In vitro-in vivo correlation for intrinsic clearance for CP-409,092 and sumatriptan: a case study to predict the in vivo clearance for compounds metabolized by monoamine oxidase

1. Oxidative deamination of the GABA_A partial agonist CP-409,092 and sumatriptan represents a major metabolic pathway and seems to play an important role for the clearance of these two compounds.

2. Similar to sumatriptan, human mitochondrial incubations with deprenyl and clorgyline, probe inhibitors of monoamine oxidase B and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-B and MAO-A), respectively, showed that CP-409,092 was metabolized to a large extent by the enzyme MAO-A.

3. The metabolism of CP-409,092 and sumatriptan was therefore studied in human liver mitochondria and in vitro intrinsic clearance (CL_int) values were determined and compared to the corresponding in vivo oral clearance (CL_PO) values. The overall objective was to determine whether an in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) could be described for compounds cleared by MAO-A.

4. The intrinsic clearance, CL_int, of CP-409,092 was approximately 4-fold greater than that of sumatriptan (CL_int, values were calculated as 0.008 and 0.002?ml/mg/min for CP-409,092 and sumatriptan, respectively). A similar correlation was observed from the in vivo metabolic data where the unbound oral clearance, CL(u)_PO, values in humans were calculated as 724 and 178?ml/min/kg for CP-409,092 and sumatriptan, respectively.

5. The present work demonstrates that it is possible to predict in vivo metabolic clearance from in vitro metabolic data for drugs metabolized by the enzyme monoamine oxidase.

     

Determination of drug-metabolizing enzyme activity in vivo : pharmacokinetic and statistical issues

1. Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus (OP) pesticide, is bioactivated by cytochrome P450s (CYPs) to the active metabolite chlorpyrifos oxon (CPF-O). Given that human CYP2B6 has the highest intrinsic clearance (CL_int) for CPF bioactivation, CYP2B6 polymorphisms may impact human susceptibility to CPF at real world environmental and occupational CPF exposure levels.

2. CYP2B6.4,.5,.7, and .18 were over-expressed in mammalian COS-1 cells to assess the impact of CYP2B6 variants on the K_m and V_max for bioactivation of CPF. Cell lysates were incubated with CPF (0–100 μM) and the production of CPF-O was measured via HPLC analysis. CYP2B6 content was determined by western blot.

3. CYP2B6.18 had neither detectable protein nor activity levels. The V_max value for each remaining variant was significantly higher than wild-type (CYP2B6.1, V_max 4.13?×?10⁴ pmol/min/nmol CYP2B6), with CYP2B6.4,.5, and .7 having V_max values of 4.52?×?10⁵, 1.82?×?10⁵, and 9.60?×?10⁴ pmol/min/nmol CYP2B6, respectively. The K_m values for these variants ranged from 0.39 to 1.09 μM and were not significantly different from wild-type. All active variants examined had significantly higher CL_int than CYP2B6.1.

4. Variants of CYP2B6 have altered capacity to bioactivate CPF and may affect individual susceptibility by altering the V_max for CPF-O formation.

     

Effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide on the metformin pharmacokinetics in rats

1. The time-dependent (2-h, 24-h, and 96-h) effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (ECLPS) on the intravenous (100?mg kg^?1) and oral (100?mg kg^?1) metformin pharmacokinetics were evaluated in rats.

2. After the intravenous administration of metformin to 24-h and 96-h ECLPS rats, the total area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUCs) and time-averaged non-renal clearances (CL_NRs) of metformin were significantly greater and slower, respectively, than the controls. However, after the oral administration of metformin, the AUCs of metformin were comparable among four groups of rats.

3. The greater (slower) intravenous AUCs (CL_NRs) of metformin in 24-h and 96-h ECLPS rats were due to the slower hepatic intrinsic clearance (CL_int) because of a decrease in the protein expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C11 and/or CYP3A subfamily than controls. The comparable oral AUCs among four groups of rats were mainly due to the comparable gastrointestinal metabolism (CL_int).

     

Pharmacokinetics,disposition and lipid-modulating activity of 5-{2-[4-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-phenyl]-ethylsulfamoyl}-2-methyl-benzoic acid,a potent and subtype-selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonist in preclinical species and human

1. 5-{2-[4-(3,4-Difluorophenoxy)-phenyl]-ethylsulfamoyl}-2-methyl-benzoic acid (1) is a novel, potent, and selective agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α).

2. In preclinical species, compound 1 demonstrated generally favourable pharmacokinetic properties. Systemic plasma clearance (CL_p) after intravenous administration was low in Sprague–Dawley rats (3.2?±?1.4?ml min^?1 kg^?1) and cynomolgus monkeys (6.1?±?1.6?ml min^?1 kg^?1) resulting in plasma half-lives of 7.1?±?0.7?h and 9.4?±?0.8?h, respectively. Moderate bioavailability in rats (64%) and monkeys (55%) was observed after oral dosing. In rats, oral pharmacokinetics were dose-dependent over the dose range examined (10 and 50?mg kg^?1).

3. In vitro metabolism studies on 1 in cryopreserved rat, monkey, and human hepatocytes revealed that 1 was metabolized via oxidation and phase II glucuronidation pathways. In rats, a percentage of the dose (approximately 19%) was eliminated via biliary excretion in the unchanged form.

4. Studies using recombinant human CYP isozymes established that the rate-limiting step in the oxidative metabolism of 1 to the major primary alcohol metabolite M1 was catalysed by CYP3A4.

5. Compound 1 was greater than 99% bound to plasma proteins in rat, monkey, mouse, and human.

6. No competitive inhibition of the five major cytochrome P450 enzymes, namely CYP1A2, P4502C9, P4502C19, P4502D6 and P4503A4 (IC₅₀’s?>?30 μM) was discerned with 1.

7. Because of insignificant turnover of 1 in human liver microsomes and hepatocytes, human clearance was predicted using rat single-species allometric scaling from in vivo data. The steady-state volume was also scaled from rat volume after normalization for protein-binding differences. As such, these estimates were used to predict an efficacious human dose required for 30% lowering of triglycerides.

8. In order to aid human dose projections, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships for triglyceride lowering by 1 were first established in mice, which allowed an insight into the efficacious concentrations required for maximal triglyceride lowering. Assuming that the pharmacology translated in a quantitative fashion from mouse to human, dose projections were made for humans using mouse pharmacodynamic parameters and the predicted human pharmacokinetic estimates.

9. First-in-human clinical studies on 1 following oral administration suggested that the human pharmacokinetics/dose predictions were in the range that yielded a favourable pharmacodynamic response.

     

Effects of verapamil on the pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rats

Abstract

1. The oral bioavailability of puerarin is poor which hindered its clinical performance.

2. This study investigates the effects of verapamil on the pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rats.

3. The pharmacokinetics of orally administered puerarin (50?mg/kg) with or without verapamil pretreatment (10?mg/kg/day for 7?days) were investigated. The plasma concentration of puerarin was determined using LC-MS/MS method, and the pharmacokinetics profiles were calculated and compared. Caco-2 cell transwell model was also used to investigate the effects of verapamil on the transport pf puerarin.

4. The results showed that when the rats were pretreated with verapamil, the maximum concentration (C_max) of puerarin increased from 683.7?±?51.2 to 933.5?±?75.8?ng/mL (p?<?0.05), and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity (AUC_0-inf) also increased from 3687.3?±?444.6 to 5006.1?±?658.6?μg·h/L (p?<?0.05). The Caco-2 cell transwell experiments indicated that verapamil could decrease the efflux ratio of puerarin from 1.90 to 1.19 through inhibiting the activity of P-gp.

5. In conclusion, these results indicated that verapamil could affect the pharmacokinetics of puerarin, possibly by increasing the systemic exposure of puerarin by inhibiting the activity of P-gp.

     

Pharmacokinetics of mirodenafil and its two metabolites,SK3541 and SK3544, after intravenous and oral administration of mirodenafil to streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus rats

1. The area under the curve (AUC) of mirodenafil after intravenous administration in diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin (DMIS) rats was significantly smaller (by 28.0?%) than the control value, and the AUC_SK3541/AUC_mirodenafil ratio was significantly greater (by 130?%) in DMIS rats. This may be explained by the significantly faster hepatic CL_int of mirodenafil, owing to increased hepatic CYP1A, CYP2B1/2, CYP2D, and CYP3A expression, and a faster hepatic blood flow rate, compared with control values.

2. The AUC of mirodenafil after oral administration was comparable between DMIS and control rats, possibly because of the comparable intestinal CL_int, which may be attributable to increased CYP1A2 expression and decreased CYP2D expression in the intestines of DMIS rats.

     

Effects of liquorice on pharmacokinetics of aconitine in rats

Abstract

1. Aconite alkaloids are the main bioactive ingredients existing in Aconitum, for instance aconitine (AC), which exhibit potent analgesic, antirheumatic and other pharmacological effects. In this study, effects of long-term treatment with liquorice on pharmacokinetics of AC in rats were investigated.

2. Pharmacokinetics of AC after oral administration of AC at 1.5?mg/kg either with pre-treatment of liquorice water extracts at 0.433 or 1.299?g/kg (crude drug), respectively, for one week or not were studied. Additionally, LS-180 cells and human primary hepatocytes were utilized to explore the potential effects of bioactive ingredients of liquorice on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Cytochromes P450 (CYPs), respectively.

3. The results revealed that exposure of AC after pre-treatment with liquorice was altered remarkably. Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) decreased from 161?±?37.8 to 58.8?±?8.97 and 44.7?±?8.20?ng/mL*h, respectively. Similarly, C_max decreased from 26.2?±?5.19 to 11.8?±?1.15 and 6.86?±?0.600?ng/mL, respectively. In addition, expressions of CYPs of human primary hepatocytes were enhanced to various contents after induction. Moreover, accumulation of AC and hypaconitine (HA), not mesaconitine (MA) inside of LS-180 cells were reduced after pre-treatment by comparison with control.

4. In conclusion, the exposure of AC in vivo declined after pre-treatment with liquorice extract, which may be highly associated with upregulated expression and/or function of CYPs and P-gp.

     

Plateable cryopreserved human hepatocytes for the assessment of cytochrome P450 inducibility: experimental condition-related variables affecting their response to inducers

1. Rationale: The aim of the present study was to assess the stability of cryopreserved human hepatocytes over 5 years and to explore experimental condition-related variables such as seeding density, culture matrix and medium, start and duration of treatment that could potentially affect the quality of cultures and their response to cytochrome P450 (CYP) inducers.

2. Results: 63/125 batches of cryopreserved human hepatocytes were plateable after thawing. Of those, 17 batches showed reproducible recovery, viability and plateability (less than 5% intra-batch variability) up to 5 years. When cultured in collagen home-coated 48-well plates at a seeding density allowing 70% confluence, cryopreserved human hepatocytes display activities equivalent to fresh counterparts. Their response to CYP inducers is maximal and equivalent to fresh counterpart for an incubation of 72 h starting at Day 2 or Day 3 after plating when cultured in modified Hepatocyte Maintenance Medium (HMM). The number of cryopreserved human hepatocytes can be further reduced by using a cocktail of CYP substrates for the assessment of their inducibility.

3. Conclusions: Experimental condition-related variables, such as seeding density, culture matrix and medium, start and duration of treatment, affecting the response of plateable thawed cryopreserved human hepatocytes to cytochrome P450 inducers can be reduced by optimizing critical steps of the protocols.

     

Pre-clinical pharmacokinetics of the acridine antitumour candidate AC04 and its 1-oxo-metabolite plasma profile

1. This work aimed to investigate plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of a new acridine derivative 5-acridin-9-ylmethylene-3-(4-methyl-benzyl)-thiazolidine-2,4-dione (AC04) and its 1-oxo-AC04 metabolite disposition in Wistar rats.

2. After a single AC04 1.5?mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) bolus dose, blood samples were taken up to 120?h. Plasma samples were deproteinization, and AC04 and metabolite were quantified by validated liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry method. Protein binding was determined by ultrafiltration. AC04 tissue disposition was evaluated after i.v. bolus dose.

3. Individual AC04 concentration–time profiles were best fitted by a two-compartment model showing CL_tot of 3.4?±?3.4?L/h/kg, Vd_SS of 137.9?±?91.4?L/kg, AUC_0–∞ of 788?±?483 ng·h/mL and a t_1/2 of 45.5?±?31.5?h. Protein binding was 98.1?±?1.6%. AC04 showed higher penetration into the lung, spleen and liver, with AUC_0–96 of 798,443, 263,211 and 303,722 ng·h/mL, respectively. The 1-oxo-AC04 metabolite represented 10% of AC04 plasma concentration, showing a t_1/2 of 23.2?±?10.4?h.

4. These results suggest that, despite the small free plasma fraction, AC04 penetrates extensively reaching high concentrations in most tissues residing for a long time, which is important for its activity on solid tumours. All results combined indicate that AC04 is potentially a good antitumour candidate.

     

A high throughput in vitro mrp2 assay to predict in vivo biliary excretion

1. Prediction of biliary excretion is a challenge for drug discovery scientists due to the lack of in vitro assays. This study explores the possibility of establishing a simple assay to predict in vivo biliary excretion via the mrp2 transport system.

2. In vitro mrp2 activity was determined by measuring the ATP-dependent uptake of 5(6)-carboxy-2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (CDCF) in canalicular plasma membrane vesicles (cLPM) from rat livers. The CDCF uptake was time- and concentration-dependent (K_m of 2.2?±?0.3 µM and V_max of 115?±?26 pmol/mg/min) and strongly inhibited by the mrp2 inhibitors, benzbromarone, MK-571, and cyclosporine A, with IC₅₀ values ≤ 1.1 µM.

3. Low inhibition of CDCF uptake by taurocholate (BSEP inhibitor; 57 µM) and digoxin (P-gp inhibitor; 101 µM) demonstrated assay specificity towards mrp2.

4. A highly significant correlation (r²?=?0.959) between the in vitro IC₅₀ values from the described mrp2 assay and in vivo biliary excretion in rats was observed using 10 literature compounds.

5. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that a high throughput assay could be established with the capability of predicting biliary excretion in the rat using CDCF as a substrate.

     

Pharmacokinetics of antofloxacin hydrochloride,a novel fluoroquinolone,after single-dose intravenous administration in healthy Chinese male volunteers

1. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of a single, intravenous dose of antofloxacin hydrochloride in healthy Chinese male volunteers.

2. Twelve subjects were randomly assigned to groups that received a single, intravenous dose of 200, 300, or 400?mg antofloxacin hydrochloride in a three-way crossover design study. The serum and urine concentrations of antofloxacin were then assayed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Major pharmacokinetic parameters and urine excretion were obtained up to 96?h after administration.

3. All three dosages were well tolerated. No clinically adverse reactions or abnormal laboratory results were detected.

4. After single-dose intravenous administration, antofloxacin hydrochloride exhibited linear pharmacokinetic characteristics with increasing dosages. The C_max for groups treated with 200, 300, or 400?mg dosages were 2.05?±?0.38, 3.01?±?0.60, and 3.80?±?0.78?mg l^?1, respectively; the areas under the curve from zero to infinity (AUC_0–∞) were 25.14?±?2.95, 37.63?±?5.42, and 53.87?±?9.48?mg l^?1·h, respectively. The t_1/2β was around 20?h; and the urinary excretion was measured as being from 58% to 60% within 96?h.

5. Based on these results, 300?mg of antofloxacin hydrochloride administered once daily is the dose suggested for further investigation in multiple-dose administration studies.

     

Rapid determination of isocorydine in rat plasma and tissues using liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry and its applications to pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution

1. A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of isocorydine in rat plasma and tissues was developed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS).

2. The biological samples were processed by extracting with diethyl ether–dichloromethane (3:2, v/v) and tetrahydropulmatine was used as the internal standard (IS). Detection of the analytes was achieved using positive ion mode electrospray ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 342.0→279.0 and 356.0→191.9 for isocorydine and IS, respectively.

3. The maximum plasma concentration (C_max 2496.8?±?374.4 µg/L) was achieved at 0.278?±?0.113?h (T_max) and the half-life (t_1/2) of isocorydine was 0.906?±?0.222?h after a 20?mg/kg oral administration. As for a 2?mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) administration, the C_max and clearance (CL) were 1843.3?±?338.3 µg/L and 2.381?±?0.356?L/h/kg, respectively. Based on the AUC_0–∞ obtained from oral and i.v. administration, the absolute bioavailability (F) was estimated as 33.4%. Tissue distribution results indicated that isocorydine underwent a rapid and wide distribution into tissues and it could effectively cross the blood-brain barrier.

     

Inhibitory effects of commonly used herbal extracts on UGT1A1 enzyme activity

1. Commonly used herbal supplements were screened for their potential to inhibit UGT1A1 activity using human liver microsomes. Extracts screened included ginseng, echinacea, black cohosh, milk thistle, garlic, valerian, saw palmetto, and green tea epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Estradiol-3-O-glucuronide (E-3-G) formation was used as the index of UGT1A1 activity.

2. All herbal extracts except garlic showed inhibition of UGT1A1 activity at one or more of the three concentrations tested. A volume per dose index (VDI) was calculated to estimate the volume in which the daily dose should be diluted to obtain an IC₅₀-equivalent concentration. EGCG, echinacea, saw palmetto, and milk thistle had VDI values >2.0?L per dose unit, suggesting a higher potential for interaction.

3. Inhibition curves were constructed for EGCG, echinacea, saw palmetto, and milk thistle. IC₅₀ values were (mean ± SE) 7.8?±?0.9, 211.7?±?43.5, 55.2?±?9.2, and 30.4?±?6.9 µg/ml for EGCG, echinacea, saw palmetto, and milk thistle extracts, respectively.

4. Based on our findings, inhibition of UGT1A1 by milk thistle and EGCG and to a lesser extent by echinacea and saw palmetto is plausible, particularly in the intestine where higher extract concentrations are anticipated. Further clinical studies are warranted.

     

Disposition of GDC-0879, a B-RAF kinase inhibitor in preclinical species

1. The pharmacokinetics and disposition of GDC-0879, a small molecule B-RAF kinase inhibitor, was characterized in mouse, rat, dog, and monkey.

2. In mouse and monkey, clearance (CL) of GDC-0879 was moderate (18.7–24.3 and 14.5?±?2.1?ml min^?1 kg^?1, respectively), low in dog (5.84?±?1.06?ml min^?1 kg^?1) and high in rat (86.9?±?14.2?ml min^?1 kg^?1). The volume of distribution across species ranged from 0.49 to 1.9?l kg^?1. Mean terminal half-life values ranged from 0.28?h in rats to 2.97?h in dogs. Absolute oral bioavailability ranged from 18% in dog to 65% in mouse.

3. Plasma protein binding of GDC-0879 in mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and humans ranged from 68.8% to 81.9%.

4. In dog, the major ketone metabolite (G-030748) of GDC-0879 appeared to be formation rate-limited.

5. Based on assessment in dogs, the absorption of GDC-0879 appeared to be sensitive to changes in gut pH, food and salt form (solubililty), with approximately three- to four-fold change in areas under the curve (AUCs) observed.

     

Carbonyl reduction of bupropion in human liver

1. Bupropion is metabolized extensively in humans by oxidative and reductive processes. CYP2B6 mediates oxidation of bupropion to hydroxybupropion, but the enzyme(s) catalyzing carbonyl reduction of bupropion to erythro- and threohydrobupropion in human liver is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the enzyme kinetics of bupropion reduction in human liver.

2. In human liver cytosol, the reduction of bupropion to erythro-and threohydrobupropion was NADPH dependent with Cl_int values of 0.08 and 0.60 µL·min^?1mg^?1 protein, respectively. Bupropion reduction in liver microsomes was also NADPH dependent with Cl_int values of 10.4 and 280 µL·min^?1mg^?1 protein, respectively. Formation of erythro-and threohydrobupropion in microsomes exceeded that in cytosol by 70 and 170 fold, respectively.

3. Menadione, an inhibitor of cytosolic carbonyl reducing enzymes (e.g. CBRs), inhibited erythro-and threohydrobupropion formation in cytosol with IC₅₀ of 30 and 54 µM, respectively. In microsomes 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, an inhibitor of microsomal carbonyl reductases (e.g. 11β-HSDs), inhibited their formation with IC₅₀ of 25 and 26?nM, respectively.

4. Our findings, in agreement with recent human placental studies, show that carbonyl reducing enzymes in hepatic microsomes are significant players in bupropion reduction. Contrary to past studies, we found that threohydrobupropion (not hydroxybupropion) is the major microsomal generated hepatic metabolite of bupropion.

     

ϵ-Acetamidocaproic acid pharmacokinetics in rats with gastric ulcer or small bowel inflammation

1. The pharmacokinetics of ?-acetamidocaproic acid (AACA) were evaluated after the intravenous and oral administration of an antiulcer agent, zinc acexamate (ZAC) at a dose of 20?mg kg^?1 (ion pairing between zinc and AACA) in rats with indomethacin-induced acute gastric ulcer (IAGU) or indomethacin-induced small bowel inflammation (ISBI).

2. In IAGU rats, the area under the curves (AUCs) of AACA were significantly smaller after both the intravenous (551 versus 1270 μg min ml^?1) and oral (397 versus 562 μg min ml^?1) administration of ZAC than controls, possible due to the significantly faster CL_R of AACA. In ISBI rats, however, the AUCs of AACA were comparable with controls after both the intravenous and oral administration of ZAC.

3. In IAGU rats, the significantly smaller AUCs of AACA were due to the significantly faster CL_R (due to the decreased urinary pH by indomethacin treatment) than controls. AACA has a basic secondary amine group. On the other hand, the comparable AUCs of AACA in ISBI rats were due to the comparable CL_Rs between ISBI and control rats.

4. AACA was excreted in the urine via active renal tubular secretion in all rats studied.

     

Modulation of transporter activity of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 by the major active components of Radix Ophiopogonis

Abstract

1. Radix Ophiopogonis is often an integral part of many traditional Chinese formulas, such as Shenmai injection used to treat cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the four active components of Radix Ophiopogonis on the transport activity of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3.

2. The uptake of rosuvastatin in OATP1B1-HEK293T cells were stimulated by methylophiopogonanone A (MA) and ophiopogonin D′ (OPD′) with EC₅₀ calculated to be 11.33?±?2.78 and 4.62?±?0.64?μM, respectively. However, there were no remarkable influences on rosuvastatin uptake in the presence of methylophiopogonanone B (MB) or ophiopogonin D (OPD). The uptake of atorvastatin in OATP1B1-HEK293T cells can be increased by MA, MB, OPD and OPD′ with EC₅₀ calculated to be 6.00?±?1.60, 13.64?±?4.07, 10.41?±?1.28 and 3.68?±?0.85?μM, respectively.

3. The uptake of rosuvastatin in OATP1B3-HEK293T cells was scarcely influenced by MA, MB and OPD, but was considerably increased by OPD′ with an EC₅₀ of 14.95?±?1.62?μM. However, the uptake of telmisartan in OATP1B3-HEK293T cells was notably reduced by OPD′ with an IC₅₀ of 4.44?±?1.10?μM, and barely affected by MA, MB and OPD.

4. The four active components of Radix Ophiopogonis affect the transporting activitives of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 in a substrate-dependent manner.

     

Testosterone hydroxylation in bovine liver: enzyme kinetic and inhibition study

1. In order to sort out the involvement of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A and possibly CYP2B in testosterone hydroxylation in cattle, enzyme kinetic and inhibition studies were performed.

2. Most relevant kinetic constants (Km and Vmax) for 6β-, 16β- and 2β-testosterone hydroxylase (OHT) activities were determined and accounted for 93.4?±?13.8, 36.4?±?6.1 and 110.8?±?15.2?μM, respectively, for Km and 0.558?±?0.03, 0.280?±?0.013, and 0.338?±?0.017?nmol min–1 mg–1 protein, respectively, for Vmax. Eadie–Hofstee plot analysis pointed out how these enzymatic activities in cattle follow a monophasic kinetic pattern.

3. Preliminary inhibition studies conducted with the CYP3A inhibitor ketoconazole and the CYP2B inhibitors orphenadrine and 9-ethynylphenanthrene seemed to suggest the major involvement of CYP3A in testosterone hydroxylation in cattle.

4. Immuno-inhibition studies with an anti-peptide antibody against bovine CYP3A4 confirmed the predominant role of CYP3A in testosterone hydroxylation in bovine liver, proving the usefulness of anti-peptide antibodies in defining the contribution of specific P450 isoforms in drug metabolism in veterinary species.