Evaluation of the intracellular accumulation of fluoroquinolones in mycobacteria by fluorometric assays.

Background: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are being used as second-line agents in the treatment of tuberculosis caused by multidrug-resistant strains. Ofloxacin (OFX) is being tried as a part of modified multidrug therapy regimens for leprosy. A preliminary study was carried out to evaluate the accumulation of FQs - OFX, levofloxacin (LFX), norfloxacin (NFX), and ciprofloxacin (CIF) in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Methods: M. smegmatis were grown in Sauton's medium till log phase, harvested and resuspended in phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.2, Optical Density (OD) of 0.4-0.5) The suspensions were incubated with OFX, LFX, NFX, and CIF (10 µg/ml) at 37°C. The drugs were estimated in the supernatants using spectrofluorimeteric methods. The experiments were also conducted with the addition of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), a proton motive force inhibitor, at 100 µM, 10 min before and/or immediately after the addition of the drugs. Results: The time taken to achieve a Steady State Concentration (SSC) of OFX in M. smegmatis was 3 min and the level of accumulation was 102 ng/mg dry weight of the bacilli; with LFX the time for SSC was 5 min and the level of accumulation was 90 ng/mg; in case of NFX the accumulation to SSC was 87 ng/mg in 3 min. CIF accumulation attained a steady state (SSC level of 79 ng/mg) in 4 min. The accumulation kinetics for NFX in M. smegmatis using the spectrofluorimetric method is comparable with radioactive assays. Dose-related accumulation was observed with 10 µg/ml exposure concentrations. The addition of CCCP failed to influence the accumulation of each of these quinolones. Conclusion: The findings of dose-related accumulation of OFX, LFX NFX, and CIF suggest simple diffusion as the possible mechanism of transport of these drugs.

Metabolism and interactions of antileprosy drugs.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused my Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects peripheral nervous system and extremities and is prevalent in tropical countries. Treatment for leprosy with multidrug regimens is very effective compared to monotherapy especially in multibacillary cases. The three major antileprosy drugs currently in use are 4, 4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS, dapsone), rifampicin, and clofazimine. During multidrug therapy, the potent antibiotic rifampicin induces the metabolism of dapsone, which results in decreased plasma half-life of dapsone and its metabolites. Furthermore, rifampicin induces its own metabolism and decreases its half-life during monotherapy. Rifampicin upregulates several hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes, especially cytochrome P450 (CYP) family that in turn induce the metabolism of dapsone. Clofazimine lacks significant induction of any drug-metabolizing enzyme including CYP family and does not interact with dapsone metabolism. Rifampicin does not induce clofazimine metabolism during combination treatment. Administration of dapsone in the acetylated form (acedapsone) can release the drug slowly into circulation up to 75 days and could be useful for the effective treatment of paucibacillary cases along with rifampicin. This review summarizes the major aspects of antileprosy drug metabolism and drug interactions and the role of cytochrome P450 family of drug metabolizing enzymes, especially CYP3A4 during multidrug regimens for the treatment of leprosy.

Metabolic, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological issues surrounding dapsone.

INTRODUCTION: In their 70-year history, dapsone and other sulfones have been used as both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. Dapsone has been the main active principle in the multidrug regimen recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of leprosy. In addition, dapsone has been successfully used to treat a wide range of dermatological and systemic disorders, mostly characterized by neutrophilic and eosinophilic accumulation and infiltration. Areas covered: The PubMed database was searched using combinations of the following keywords: dapsone, sulfones, pharmacodynamics, pharmacology, adverse events, pharmacokinetics, drug interaction, dermatologic uses, and antimicrobial uses. This article reviews and updates the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, adverse effects, drug interactions, and clinical application of sulfones. Expert opinion: Dapsone exhibits clinical efficacy in several cutaneous and systemic conditions and is now generally accepted as the therapy of choice for leprosy and for rare dermatosis, as dermatitis herpetiformis. Careful patient selection and close monitoring during treatment are mandatory to provide safe and effective use of dapsone. Familiarity with sulfones and dapsone is crucial because of this agent retains its niche in the clinician's therapeutic armamentarium.

Design and statistical modeling of mannose-decorated dapsone-containing nanoparticles as a strategy of targeting intestinal M-cells.

The aim of the present work was to develop and optimize surface-functionalized solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for improvement of the therapeutic index of dapsone (DAP), with the application of a design of experiments. The formulation was designed to target intestinal microfold (M-cells) as a strategy to increase internalization of the drug by the infected macrophages. DAP-loaded SLNs and mannosylated SLNs (M-SLNs) were successfully developed by hot ultrasonication method employing a three-level, three-factor Box-Behnken design, after the preformulation study was carried out with different lipids. All the formulations were systematically characterized regarding their diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency, and loading capacity. They were also subjected to morphological studies using transmission electron microscopy, in vitro release study, infrared analysis (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), calorimetry studies (differential scanning calorimetry), and stability studies. The diameter of SLNs, SLN-DAP, M-SLNs, and M-SLN-DAP was approximately 300 nm and the obtained PDI was <0.2, confirming uniform populations. Entrapment efficiency and loading capacity were approximately 50% and 12%, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical shape and nonaggregated nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the success of mannose coating process though Schiff's base formation. The variation of the ZP between uncoated (approximately -30 mV) and mannosylated formulations (approximately +60 mV) also confirmed the successful coating process. A decrease in the enthalpy and broadening of the lipid melting peaks of the differential scanning calorimetry thermograms are consistent with the nanostructure of the SLNs. Moreover, the drug release was pH-sensitive, with a faster drug release at acidic pH than at neutral pH. Storage stability for the formulations for at least 8 weeks is expected, since they maintain the original characteristics of diameter, PDI, and ZP. These results pose a strong argument that the developed formulations can be explored as a promising carrier for treating leprosy with an innovative approach to target DAP directly to M-cells.

Bone distribution study of anti leprotic drug clofazimine in rat bone marrow cells by a sensitive reverse phase liquid chromatography method.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of clofazimine (CLF) in rat bone marrow cells by a validated reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. CLF and chlorzoxazone (I.S) were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction from plasma and rat bone marrow cells. The chromatographic separation was performed in isocratic mode by the mobile phase consisting of 10mM ammonium formate (pH 3.0 with formic acid) and acetonitrile in a ratio of 50:50 (v/v). The method was accurate and precise in the linear range of 15.6-2000.0 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.996 and 0.995 in rat plasma and bone marrow cells, respectively. After single oral dose of 20mg/kg, the maximum concentration of CLF in plasma and bone marrow cells were obtained at 12h with the concentrations of 593.2 and 915.4 ng/mL, respectively. The AUC0-t and mean elimination half life (t1/2) of CLF in bone marrow cells were 54339.02 ng h/mL and 52.46 h, respectively, which signified the low body clearance and high distribution of CLF in bone marrow cells. The single oral dose pharmacokinetic investigation was confirmed the CLF endure for a long period in rat due to high distribution in various tissues. The developed method was successfully applied to the estimation of the pharmacokinetic parameters of CLF in plasma and bone marrow cells after administration of single oral dose of 20mg/kg to rats.

Dapsone and body mass index in subjects with multibacillary leprosy.

BACKGROUND: The physiological changes in obese subjects can modify the pharmacokinetic profiles of drugs influencing the therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: In this study, the authors compare plasma dapsone trough levels of multibacillary leprosy subjects stratified by body mass index (BMI) to evaluate if obesity plays a significant role on drug levels. The relationship between drug levels and BMI was also determined. Dapsone was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and BMI based on World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: At steady state, the median plasma dapsone trough level was significantly lower in obesity class 2 group, when compared with other groups, but they were similar between normal weight and preobesity groups. A weak association between drug levels and BMI was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity promotes a significant reduction in plasma dapsone trough levels of subjects with multibacillary leprosy with a weak association between drug levels and BMI.

Biowaiver monographs for immediate release solid oral dosage forms: rifampicin.

Literature data relevant to the decision to allow a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence (BE) testing for the approval of new multisource and reformulated immediate release (IR) solid oral dosage forms containing rifampicin as the only Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) are reviewed. Rifampicin's solubility and permeability, its therapeutic use and index, pharmacokinetics, excipient interactions and reported BE/bioavailability (BA) problems were taken into consideration. Solubility and absolute BA data indicate that rifampicin is a BCS Class II drug. Of special concern for biowaiving is that many reports of failure of IR solid oral dosage forms of rifampicin to meet BE have been published and the reasons for these failures are yet insufficiently understood. Moreover, no reports were identified in which in vitro dissolution was shown to be predictive of nonequivalence among products. Therefore, a biowaiver based approval of rifampicin containing IR solid oral dosage forms cannot be recommended for either new multisource drug products or for major scale-up and postapproval changes (variations) to existing drug products.

Tissue distribution and deposition of clofazimine in mice following oral administration with or without isoniazid.

Tissue distribution and deposition of clofazimine (CAS 2030-63-9) in mice were investigated following administration of clofazimine with or without isoniazid (CAS 54-85-3). Balb/c mice were administered clofazimine suspension in mustard oil orally at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg body weight either alone or along with isoniazid (10 mg/kg body weight) for 15 or 30 days. Various tissues (liver, lung, spleen, small intestine, heart, kidneys, mesentric fat, foot pad and nerve) and pooled plasma were analysed for clofazimine in all the treated groups. High levels of clofazimine were observed in tissues having reticulo-endothelial components (53-263 microg/g wet tissue). In other tissues the levels of the drug were relatively lower (8.1-42.8 microg/g of wet tissue). There was a significant amount of the drug in foot pads and pooled nerve tissue showed detectable amount of the drug. The plasma concentrations in all treated groups were in the range of 0.5-0.8 microg/ml. Tissue levels were found to be increased in selective tissues with the length of drug administration. Concomitant administration of isoniazid reduced clofazimine levels significantly in tissues like small intestine, spleen, and foot pad and resulted in an increase in plasma levels.

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of clofazimine in relation to food, orange juice and antacid.

BACKGROUND: Clofazimine is potentially useful for the treatment of disease due to multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as leprosy and certain chronic skin diseases. Its pharmacokinetics have been incompletely characterized. This study was conducted to explore issues relating to bioavailability in the presence of food, orange juice, and antacid. METHODS: A 5 drug regimen consisting of clofazimine, cycloserine, ethionamide, para-aminosalicyclic acid, and pyridoxime was administered to healthy subjects four times using a four period cross-over design with two weeks washout between treatments. Subjects also received orange juice, a high fat meal, aluminum/magnesium antacid, or only water in random order with the drug regimen. The pharmacokinetics of clofazimine were assessed using individual- and population-based methods and relative bioavailability compared to fasting administration was determined. RESULTS: Clofazimine exhibited a sometimes prolonged and variable lag-time and considerable variability in plasma concentrations. From the population analysis (one-compartment model), the mean oral clearance was 76.7 l/h (CV=74.2%) and mean apparent volume of distribution was 1470 l (CV=36.3%). The first-order absorption rate constant ranged from 0.716 to 1.33 h(-1) (pooled CV=61.7%). Residual (proportional) error was 49.1%. Estimates of bioavailability compared to fasting administration were 145% (90% CI, 107-183%) for administration with high fat food, 82.0% (63.2-101%) for administration with orange juice, and 78.5% (55.1-102%) for administration with antacid. CONCLUSION: Administration of clofazimine with a high fat meal provides the greatest bioavailability, however, bioavailability is associated with high inter- and intra-subject variability. Both orange juice and aluminum-magnesium antacid produced a reduction in mean bioavailability of clofazimine.

Importância do reconhecimento clínico da hanseníase / Importance of clinical recognition of hanseniase

Neste artigo é realizada uma discussão sobre a hanseníase, relevante doença infecciosa no mundo, com importância marcante nas áreas tropicais. Procurou-se enfatizar os aspectos clínicos e imunopatogênicos, como forma de se proporcionar um melhor panorama do estado atual do problema

Tissue concentration, systemic distribution and toxicity of clofazimine--an autopsy study.

There are very few autopsy studies available on systemic distribution of clofazimine, a drug with anti-mycobacterial activity, used in multidrug therapy (MDT) regimen of leprosy and in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). An autopsy study was done on a 45 year old female of lepromatous leprosy (LL) on MDT and long term high dosage of clofazimine. Patient succumbed to intractable abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hypokalemia following clofazimine treatment. Autopsy study revealed yellowish brown discoloration of skin, viscera and body fluids. Chemical extraction of the drug revealed the highest concentration of the drug in jejunum (1.5mg/gm),followed by spleen (1.2mg/gm), pancreas (0.4mg/gm), adrenal (0.25mg/gm), liver (0.21mg/gm), and less than 0.2mg/gm in lung, fat, large intestine and stomach. It can be inferred from the present study that the drug is absorbed from the jejunum and gets deposited in fat, reticulo-endothelial cells (R-E cells) and hepatocytes. The drug is best demonstrated in cryostat sections and is lost partly during tissue processing and staining. The drug toxicity can be fatal as seen in the present case.

Determination of clofazimine in leprosy patients by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An original, simple, specific, and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography assay for the determination of clofazimine in human plasma is presented. The procedure consists of extracting the drug and the internal standard (medazepam) from 0.5 mL plasma with dichloromethane/diisopropyl ether (1:1, v/v) at pH 3.0, after precipitating the proteins with methanol. The drugs were then quantitated on a reversed-phase C8 using a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol/0.25 N sodium acetate buffer at pH 3.0 (74:26, v/v). The flow-rate and wavelength were set at 1 mL/min and 286 nm, respectively. The precision, linearity, and limit of quantitation of the method were within acceptable limits. The method was considered adequate and could be applied in studies involving blood level monitoring and pharmacokinetics in leprosy patients.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection for the determination of dapsone and its hydroxylated metabolite in human plasma.

A validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection for the quantitative determination of dapsone (4,4'-diaminodifenyl sulfone, DDS) and a metabolite, hydroxylaminodapsone (4-amino-4-hydroxylaminodiphenyl sulfone, DDS-NOH), in human plasma is described. Human plasma was deproteinized with acetone and the clear supernatant solution after centrifugation was evaporated to dryness under a gentle stream of nitrogen at 70 degrees C. The residue was dissolved in a mixture of HPLC eluent and acetone (18:5 v/v) and an aliquot of this solution (50 microL) was injected onto the HPLC column. Dapsone, hydroxylaminodapsone and diazoxide as internal standard, were separated within 10 min by isocratic elution with water:acetonitrile:glacial acetic acid:triethylamine (80:20:1.0:0.5 by volume) as eluent. Detection was by ultraviolet at the wavelength of 295 nm. The within-day repeatability coefficients of variation were 3-5% for dapsone (0.301-20.0 mg/L, n = 5) and 3-5% for hydroxylaminodapsone (0.0948-6.32 mg/L, n = 5), whereas the between-day repeatability coefficients of variation were 3-8% (0.301-20.0 mg/L, n = 5) for dapsone and 4-10% for hydroxylaminodapsone (0.0948-6.32 mg/L, n = 5). The mean recoveries -were 92-107% (0.301-20.0 mg/L, n = 2), 80-82% (0.0948-6.32 mg/L, n = 2) and 88% (0.0200 mg/mL, n = 5), for dapsone, hydroxylaminodapsone and diazoxide, respectively. The average correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.99988 (n = 5) for dapsone at a concentration range of 0.301-20.0 mg/L, whereas the average correlation coefficient of the hydroxylaminodapsone calibration curve was 0.99981 (n = 5) at a concentration range of 0.0948-6.32 mg/L. The limits of detection were 0.00200 and 0.0470 mg/L for dapsone and hydroxylaminodapsone, respectively. The method is suitable for drug level monitoring and for pharmacokinetic studies.

Thalidomide dose proportionality assessment following single doses to healthy subjects.

Thalidomide is approved in the United States for treating erythema nodosum leprosum, a complication of leprosy. The present study determined the single-dose oral pharmacokinetics and dose proportionality from 50 to 400 mg of Celgene's commercial Thalomid thalidomide formulation in an open-label, single-dose, three-way crossover study. Fifteen healthy subjects were given 50, 200, and 400 mg of thalidomide on three occasions, and blood samples were collected over 48 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using noncompartmental methods, and dose proportionality was assessed by linear regression of dose-normalized Cmax and AUC0-infinity. No serious or unexpected adverse events occurred. The most common adverse events were dizziness, somnolence, headache, and nausea. One patient was discontinued because of pharyngitis. There was a significant deviation from proportionality for Cmax with increases being less than proportional than changes in dose. AUC0-infinity increased proportionally with dose, suggesting that the overall amount of thalidomide absorbed, as well as its clearance, is independent of dose over the range used. V/F was found to increase with dose. This was most likely due to the terminal rate constant, which is used to calculate V/F, actually representing the absorption process rather than elimination (i.e., flip-flop phenomenon). The terminal rate constant (absorption rate constant) for the highest dose was 50% less than for the other two lower doses. The less than proportional increases in Cmax were most likely due to thalidomide's low aqueous solubility. Thalidomide shows reasonable dose proportionality with respect to AUC from 50 to 400 mg.

Single-dose oral pharmacokinetics of three formulations of thalidomide in healthy male volunteers.

Thalidomide was recently approved in the United States for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum, a complication of leprosy. The present study determined the bioequivalence and pharmacokinetics of Celgene's commercial and clinical trial thalidomide formulations and the Brazilian Tortuga formulation in an open-label, single-dose, three-way crossover design. Seventeen healthy subjects were given 200 mg of thalidomide on three occasions, and blood samples were collected over 48 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using compartmental methods for the two Celgene formulations and using noncompartmental methods for all three formulations. All subjects reported adverse events, none of which was serious or unexpected. Celgene formulations were bioequivalent when comparing Cmax, tmax, and AUC. There was significant variability in plasma levels from the Tortuga formulation, giving a mean profile that was distinctly different from the two Celgene formulations with a lower Cmax value and a longer terminal phase. The lower Cmax was probably due to slower absorption. The terminal rate constant for the Tortuga formulation was significantly less, giving rise to a terminal half-life of 15 hours compared to about 5 to 6 hours for the Celgene formulations. Confidence intervals for Cmax between the Tortuga and the Celgene formulations were outside the 80% to 125% range, indicating a lack of bioequivalence. Extent of absorption, as measured by AUC0-infinity, was approximately equal for all three formulations. Terminal half-life for Tortuga was two to three times longer compared to the Celgene formulations and is clear evidence for absorption rate limitations. The two Celgene formulations showed similar pharmacokinetic parameters with profiles that were best described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. The authors conclude that Celgene's clinical trial and commercial thalidomide formulations are similar to each other and distinctly different from the Tortuga formulation and that all three formulations exhibited absorption rate-limited elimination.

Thalidomide does not alter estrogen-progesterone hormone single dose pharmacokinetics.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of oral thalidomide (200 mg/day, administered for 21 days) and to assess the effects of steady-state plasma concentrations of thalidomide on the single-dose pharmacokinetics of ethinyl estradiol (INN, ethinylestradiol) and norethindrone (INN, norethisterone). METHODS: A randomized, 2-period crossover study was performed in 10 healthy premenopausal female volunteers. The pharmacokinetic profiles of plasma concentrations of thalidomide were evaluated with both noncompartmental and compartmental methods, whereas those of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone were calculated with noncompartmental methods. The effects of steady-state plasma thalidomide concentrations on the pharmacokinetics of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone were determined with use of an ANOVA model that included treatment sequence, subject within sequence, period, and treatment as factors. RESULTS: Thalidomide plasma concentrations were best predicted by a 1-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination and an absorption time-lag. There were no significant differences between pharmacokinetic parameters for thalidomide after 1 dose and those after 18 consecutive doses. Except for a minor decrease of the elimination rate constant (k(e)) for ethinyl estradiol, coadministration of thalidomide had no significant effects on the pharmacokinetic profiles for either ethinyl estradiol or norethindrone. The change in k(e) for ethinyl estradiol during thalidomide administration was not associated with any alteration in the clearance or elimination half-life for this hormone. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of thalidomide is similar to the single-dose profile. This study did not investigate the efficacy of the 21-day fixed ethinyl estradiol-norethindrone regimen, but the results suggest that thalidomide is unlikely to affect the pharmacokinetics of orally administered hormonal contraceptives.

Neither dapsone hydroxylation nor cortisol 6beta-hydroxylation detects the inhibition of CYP3A4 by HIV-1 protease inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the use of dapsone N-hydroxylation and cortisol 6beta-hydroxylation, well accepted in vivo probes of cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4) activity, on defining the effect of three HIV protease inhibitors on CYP3A4 activity. METHODS: Subjects from University Hospital Infectious Disease Clinic about to be started on indinavir, and subjects from two clinical studies, one using ritonavir and the other using amprenavir, were recruited to participate in the study. Subjects received dapsone 100 mg p.o. followed by an 8-h urine collection for dapsone, dapsone N-hydroxylamine, cortisol, and 6beta-hydroxycortisol concentrations before HIV protease inhibitor administration, and 3 4 weeks into receiving HIV protease inhibitors. RESULTS: None of the HIV protease inhibitors demonstrated statistically significant alterations in dapsone recovery ratio and 6beta-hydroxycortisol/cortisol ratio. In fact, with ritonavir, the dapsone recovery ratio tended to increase rather than decrease, suggesting induction. These negative results were found despite evidence of CYP3A4 inhibition by these three HIV protease inhibitors via published drug-drug interactions with drugs that are substrates for CYP3A4. CONCLUSIONS: These in vivo assays used to probe CYP3A4 activity are suboptimal, most likely because of the presence of extrahepatic sites of metabolism for both dapsone and cortisol, and multiple CYP isozymes involved in dapsone N-hydroxylation.

Excretion of clofazimine in human milk in leprosy patients.

Clofazimine is an important and effective constituent of multi drug therapy for leprosy. A study has been conducted to determine the distribution of clofazimine in maternal milk so that the safety of breast-feeding during maternal ingestion of the drug can be ascertained. Eight female leprosy patients (LL/BL) on clofazimine, 50 mg daily or 100 mg on alternate days for 1-18 months, (mean 5.0 +/- 1.81 months; median 3.25 months) and in the early lactating phase were studied. Blood samples and milk specimens were collected 4-6 hr after the last daily dose. Clofazimine was assayed in the milk and plasma samples by HPTLC. Mean plasma and milk clofazimine levels were 0.9 +/- 0.03 micrograms/ml and 1.33 +/- 0.09 micrograms/ml respectively. The ratio of milk to plasma drug concentration ranged from 1.0 to 1.7 with a mean of 1.48 +/- 0.08. The amount of drug ingested by the infants was 0.199 +/- 0.013 mg/kg/day which represented 22.1 +/- 1.9% of the maternal dose.

Hydrolysis of thalidomide abrogates its ability to enhance mononuclear cell synthesis of IL-2 as well as its ability to suppress the synthesis of TNF-alpha.

Thalidomide is effective in the treatment of inflammatory conditions like erythema nodosum leprosum in leprosy patients, and aphthous ulcers in AIDS patients. Its mechanism of action is uncertain and reports of its effect on the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2 and TNF-alpha are contradictory. As thalidomide is labile to spontaneous hydrolysis at pH 7.4, studies were carried out to explore the effects of deliberate hydrolysis or the ability of thalidomide to modulated cytokine production by human mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA)(IL-2) or lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella minnesota (LPS)(TNF-alpha). Unhydrolyzed thalidomide at 4.0 micrograms/ml consistently enhanced the synthesis of IL-2 in SEA-stimulated cells, and suppressed the synthesis of TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated cells; whereas, hydrolyzed thalidomide had no enhancing effect on SEA stimulated-cell synthesis of IL-2 or suppressive effect on LPS stimulated-cell synthesis of TNF-alpha. These findings demonstrate that thalidomide's ability in vitro to enhance IL-2 and to suppress TNF-alpha in stimulated cells is dependent on the intact molecule and underscore the necessity to employ thalidomide under appropriate physicochemical conditions.

Characterization of clofazimine metabolites in humans by HPLC-electrospray mass spectrometry.

Clofazimine (CAS 2030-63-9) is an important drug used in the treatment of leprosy. Its important metabolites are investigated by thin layer chromatography (TLC), HPLC (diode array) and HPLC-electrospray mass spectrometry. The resulting analytical data, extraction, isolation and characterization methods are presented. Their applicability is described for human urine analysis.