Transepithelial Transport of Diphenhydramine Across Monolayers of the Human Intestinal Epithelial Cell Line Caco-2

Purpose. The transepithelial transport characteristics of theantihistamine, diphenhydramine, were studied in human intestinal Caco-2 cellmonolayers to elucidate the mechanisms of its intestinal absorption.Methods. The transepithelial transport and the cellular accumulationof diphenhydramine were measured using Caco-2 cell monolayersgrown in Transwell chambers.Results. The transepithelial transport of diphenhydramine from theapical to basolateral side was saturable, and the flux and cellularaccumulation of diphenhydramine were dependent on the apicalextracellular pH (pH 7.4 > 6.5 > 5.5). Transport and accumulation ofdiphenhydramine from the apical side were inhibited by anotherantihistamine, chlorpheniramine, while typical substrates for the renal organiccation transport system such as tetraethylammonium, cimetidine andguanidine had no effect. The transepithelial transport and cellularaccumulation of diphenhydramine from the basolateral side were alsopH-dependent and inhibited by chlorpheniramine. In addition, intracellulardiphenhydramine preloaded was preferentially effluxed to the apicalside, suggesting the involvement of the secretory pathway indiphenhydramine transport. Furthermore, diphenhydramine uptake from boththe apical and basolateral sides was stimulated by preloadingmonolayers with chlorpheniramine (trans-stimulation effect).Conclusions. Transepithelial transport of diphenhydramine acrossCaco-2 cells is mediated by pH-dependent, specific transport systemsthat exist in both the apical and basolateral membranes.