In silico modeling for the nonlinear absorption kinetics of UK-343,664: a P-gp and CYP3A4 substrate.

The aim of this work was to extrapolate in vitro and preclinical animal data to simulate the pharmacokinetic parameters of UK-343,664, a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A4 substrate, in human. In addition, we aimed to develop a simulation model to demonstrate the involvement and the controversial complex interaction of intestinal P-gp and CYP3A4 in its nonlinear absorption, first-pass extraction, and pharmacokinetics using the advanced compartmental absorption and transit (ACAT) model. Finally, we aimed to compare the results predicted from the model to the reported findings in human clinical studies. In situ perfusion, allometric scaling, PBPK Rodger mechanistic approach, in vitro metabolism, and fitting to in vivo data were used to mechanistically explain the absorption, distribution and metabolism, respectively. GastroPlus was used to build the integrated simulation model in human for UK-343,664 to mechanistically explain the observed clinical data at 30, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg oral doses. The measured in vitro value for CYP3A4 K(m) (465 µM) in rCYPs was converted to units of µg/mL, corrected for assumed microsomal binding (17.8%) and applied to all metabolic processes. The measured in vitro values of V(max) for CYP3A4 (38.9 pmol/min/pmol), 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 2D6 were used along with the in vitro CYP3A4 K(m) to simulate liver first pass extraction and systemic clearance. The measured in vitro values of V(max) for CYP3A4 and 2D6 were used along with the in vitro CYP3A4 K(m) to simulate gut first pass extraction. V(max) and K(m) values for P-gp were obtained by fitting to in vivo data and used to simulate gut efflux transport activity. Investigation of the interaction mechanism of P-gp and CYP3A4 in the intestine was achieved by comparing the influence of a virtual knockout of P-gp or gut metabolism on the fraction absorbed, fraction reaching the portal vein, and fraction metabolized in the gut. Comparison between simulation and in vivo results showed that the in silico simulation provided a mechanistic explanation of the observed nonlinear absorption kinetics of UK-343,664 in human following its administration in the range of 30-800 mg as oral solutions. The simulation results of the pharmacokinetic parameters, AUC and C(max), by GastroPlus were comparable with those observed in vivo. This simulation model is one possible mechanistic explanation of the observed in vivo data and suggests that the nonlinear dose dependence could be attributed to saturation of both the efflux transport by P-gp and the intestinal metabolism. However, the concentration ranges for either protein saturation did not overlap and resulted in much greater than dose proportional increases in AUC. At low doses, producing intraenterocyte concentrations below the fitted value of K(m) for P-gp, the influence of P-gp appears to be protective and results in a lower fraction of gut 3A4 metabolism. At higher doses, as P-gp becomes saturated the fraction of gut 3A4 extraction increases, and eventually at the highest doses, where 3A4 becomes saturated, the fraction of gut 3A4 extraction again decreases. Such a complex interpretation of this in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) is another example of the value and insight obtained by physiologically based absorption simulation.

Comparison of the intestinal absorption and bioavailability of γ-tocotrienol and α-tocopherol: in vitro, in situ and in vivo studies.

The aim of this work was to compare the intestinal absorption kinetics and the bioavailability of γ-tocotrienol (γ-T3) and α-tocopherol (α-Tph) administered separately as oil solutions to rats in vivo. Also, to explain the significant difference in the oral bioavailability of the compounds: (1) the release profiles using the dynamic in vitro lipolysis model, (2) the intestinal permeability and (3) carrier-mediated uptake by Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) transporter were examined. Absolute bioavailability studies were conducted after oral administration of γ-T3 or α-Tph prepared in corn oil to rats. In situ rat intestinal perfusion with ezetimibe (a NPC1L1 inhibitor) was performed to compare intestinal permeability. The in vitro interaction kinetics with NPC1L1 was examined in NPC1L1 transfected cells. While the in vitro release studies demonstrated a significantly higher release rate of γ-T3 in the aqueous phase, the oral bioavailability of α-Tph (36%) was significantly higher than γ-T3 (9%). Consequent in situ studies revealed significantly higher intestinal permeability for α-Tph compared with γ-T3 in rats. Moreover, the NPC1L1 kinetic studies demonstrated higher Vmax and Km values for α-Tph compared with γ-T3. Collectively, these results indicate that intestinal permeability is the main contributing factor for the higher bioavailability of α-Tph. Also, these results emphasize the potentially important role of intestinal permeability in the bioavailability of γ-T3, suggesting that enhancing its permeability would increase its oral bioavailability.

Effects of chemically characterized fractions from aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea and E. angustifolia on myelopoiesis in rats.

Echinacea species are used for beneficial effects on immune function, and various prevalent phytochemicals have immunomodulatory effects. Using a commercial E. purpurea (L.) Moench product, we have evaluated the myelopoietic effect on bone marrow of rats treated with various extracts and correlated this with their chemical class composition. Granulocyte/macrophage-colony forming cells (GM-CFCs) from femurs of female Sprague-Dawley rats were assessed at 24 h after 7 daily oral treatments. A 75% ethanolic extract at 50 mg dried weight (derived from 227 mg aerial parts) per kg body weight increased GM-CFCs by 70% but at 100 mg/kg was without effect. Ethanolic extracts from aerial parts of E. angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia and E. purpurea from the USDA North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station increased GM-CFCs by 3- and 2-fold, respectively, at 200 mg/kg (~1400 mg/kg plant material). Extract from another USDA E. angustifolia was inactive. Proton and APT NMR, MS, and TLC indicated alkylamides and caffeic-acid derivatives (CADs) present in ethanolic extracts of both the commercial and USDA-derived material. Cichoric and caftaric acids were prominent in both E. purpurea ethanolic extracts but absent in E. angustifolia. Aqueous extract of the commercial material exhibited polysaccharide and CAD signatures and was without effect on GM-CFCs. A methanol-CHCl3 fraction of commercial source, also inactive, was almost exclusively 1:4 nonanoic: decanoic acids, which were also abundant in commercial ethanolic extract but absent from USDA material. In conclusion, we have demonstrated an ethanolextractable myelostimulatory activity in Echinacea aerial parts that, when obtained from commercial herbal supplements, may be antagonized by medium-chain fatty acids presumably derived from a non-plant additive.

Application of Clinical Pharmacology Principles in Drug Development of Modified-Release Products: Leveraging Exposure-Response Information to Support Approval.

The development of modified-release (MR) drug products aims to address a clinical need such as improving patient compliance. There are multiple pathways and development strategies for the registration and approval of MR products. The development strategy of an MR product is usually dependent on the availability and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) characteristics of the reference drug product, that is, an immediate-release (IR) product or a reference MR. Compared with a reference IR product, an MR product is likely to have a different PK profile over the least common dosing time due to unequal dosing intervals. In case of differences in PK profiles between the MR product and the reference product, confirmatory efficacy and safety studies may be needed to support registration. In some cases, however, a thorough clinical PK/PD characterization may provide sufficient basis to support the approval of the proposed MR product without the need for additional safety and efficacy studies. This article summarizes the US Food and Drug Administration experience and the regulatory considerations supporting the approval of MR products in the past 6 years and discusses cases in which clinical pharmacology and PK/PD information were leveraged to support approval without the need for additional clinical studies. Details of all these cases are available in the public domain. In 2 cases a well-characterized exposure-response relationship provided sufficient justification that differences in the shape of the PK profiles were not clinically relevant. In the remaining 3 cases a thorough characterization of the PK profile along with a risk-based approach provided bases for approval.

Differences in amyloid-ß clearance across mouse and human blood-brain barrier models: kinetic analysis and mechanistic modeling.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a characteristic hallmark of amyloid-ß (Aß) accumulation in the brain. This accumulation of Aß has been related to its faulty cerebral clearance. Indeed, preclinical studies that used mice to investigate Aß clearance showed that efflux across blood-brain barrier (BBB) and brain degradation mediate efficient Aß clearance. However, the contribution of each process to Aß clearance remains unclear. Moreover, it is still uncertain how species differences between mouse and human could affect Aß clearance. Here, a modified form of the brain efflux index method was used to estimate the contribution of BBB and brain degradation to Aß clearance from the brain of wild type mice. We estimated that 62% of intracerebrally injected (125)I-Aß40 is cleared across BBB while 38% is cleared by brain degradation. Furthermore, in vitro and in silico studies were performed to compare Aß clearance between mouse and human BBB models. Kinetic studies for Aß40 disposition in bEnd3 and hCMEC/D3 cells, representative in vitro mouse and human BBB models, respectively, demonstrated 30-fold higher rate of (125)I-Aß40 uptake and 15-fold higher rate of degradation by bEnd3 compared to hCMEC/D3 cells. Expression studies showed both cells to express different levels of P-glycoprotein and RAGE, while LRP1 levels were comparable. Finally, we established a mechanistic model, which could successfully predict cellular levels of (125)I-Aß40 and the rate of each process. Established mechanistic model suggested significantly higher rates of Aß uptake and degradation in bEnd3 cells as rationale for the observed differences in (125)I-Aß40 disposition between mouse and human BBB models. In conclusion, current study demonstrates the important role of BBB in the clearance of Aß from the brain. Moreover, it provides insight into the differences between mouse and human BBB with regards to Aß clearance and offer, for the first time, a mathematical model that describes Aß clearance across BBB.

Sesamin synergistically potentiates the anticancer effects of γ-tocotrienol in mammary cancer cell lines.

γ-Tocotrienol and sesamin are phytochemicals that display potent anticancer activity. Since sesamin inhibits the metabolic degradation of tocotrienols, studies were conducted to determine if combined treatment with sesamin potentiates the antiproliferative effects of γ-tocotrienol on neoplastic mouse (+SA) and human (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) mammary cancer cells. Results showed that treatment with γ-tocotrienol or sesamin alone induced a significant dose-responsive growth inhibition, whereas combination treatment with these agents synergistically inhibited the growth of +SA, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 mammary cancer cells, while similar treatment doses were found to have little or no effect on normal (mouse CL-S1 and human MCF-10A) mammary epithelial cell growth or viability. However, sesamin synergistic enhancement of γ-tocotrienol-induced anticancer effects was not found to be mediated from a reduction in γ-tocotrienol metabolism. Rather, combined treatment with subeffective doses of γ-tocotrienol and sesamin was found to induce G1 cell cycle arrest, and a corresponding decrease in cyclin D1, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, phospho-Rb, and E2F1 levels, and increase in p27 and p16 levels. Additional studies showed that the antiproliferative effect of combination treatment did not initiate apoptosis or result in a decrease in mammary cancer cell viability. Taken together, these findings indicate that the synergistic antiproliferative action of combined γ-tocotrienol and sesamin treatment in mouse and human mammary cancer cells is cytostatic, not cytotoxic, and results from G1 cell cycle arrest.

Enhancement of intestinal permeability utilizing solid lipid nanoparticles increases γ-tocotrienol oral bioavailability.

γ-Tocotrienol (γ-T3), a member of the vitamin E family, has been reported to possess an anticancer activity. γ-T3 is a lipophilic compound with low oral bioavailability. Previous studies showed that γ-T3 has low intestinal permeability. Thus, we have hypothesized that enhancing γ-T3 intestinal permeability will increase its oral bioavailability. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were tested as a model formulation to enhance γ-T3 permeability and bioavailability. γ-T3 intestinal permeability was compared using in situ rat intestinal perfusion, followed by in vivo relative oral bioavailability studies. In addition, in vitro cellular uptake of γ-T3 from SLN was compared to mixed micelles (MM) in a time and concentration-dependent studies. To elucidate the uptake mechanism(s) of γ-T3 from SLN and MM the contribution of NPC1L1 carrier-mediated uptake, endocytosis and passive permeability were investigated. In situ studies demonstrated SLN has tenfold higher permeability than MM. Subsequent in vivo studies showed γ-T3 relative oral bioavailability from SLN is threefold higher. Consistent with in situ results, in vitro concentration dependent studies revealed γ-T3 uptake from SLN was twofold higher than MM. In vitro mechanistic characterization showed that while endocytosis contributes to γ-T3 uptake from both formulations, the reduced contribution of NPC1L1 to the transport of γ-T3, and passive diffusion enhancement of γ-T3 are primary explanations for its enhanced uptake from SLN. In conclusion, SLN successfully enhanced γ-T3 oral bioavailability subsequent to enhanced passive permeability.