Identification of the thiophene ring of methapyrilene as a novel bioactivation-dependent hepatic toxicophore.

Methapyrilene (MP), a 2-thiophene H(1)-receptor antagonist, is a model toxicant in the genomic and proteomic analyses of hepatotoxicity. In rats, it causes an unusual periportal necrosis that is hypothetically attributed to chemically reactive and cytotoxic metabolites. We have characterized the bioactivation of MP by hepatic microsomes and primary rat hepatocytes, and we established a possible causal linkage with cytotoxicity. Methapyrilene tritiated at C-2 of the diaminoethane moiety ([3H]MP) was metabolized via an NADPH-dependent pathway to intermediates that combined irreversibly with microsomes (rat > mouse approximately human). This binding was attenuated by the cytochrome P450 (P450) inhibitor 1-aminobenzotriazole and thiols but not by trapping agents for iminium ions and aldehydes. Reactive intermediates were trapped as thioether adducts of monooxygenated MP. Mass spectrometric and hydrogen/deuterium exchange analysis of the glutathione adduct produced by rat liver microsomes indicated that the metabolite was most probably a thioether of MP S-oxide substituted in the thiophene ring. The glutathione adduct was formed by rat hepatocytes and eliminated in bile by rats administered [3H]MP intravenously. MP produced concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, depleted glutathione, and underwent irreversible binding to the hepatocytes before a significant increase in cell damage was observed. P450 inhibitors reduced turnover of the drug, production of the glutathione adduct, irreversible binding, and cytotoxicity but inhibited glutathione depletion selectively. MP underwent lesser turnover and bioactivation in mouse hepatocytes and was not cytotoxic. Analogs with phenyl and p-methoxyphenyl rings were much less hepatocytotoxic than MP. Hepatotoxicity in rats was diminished by predosing with 1-aminobenzotriazole. For the first time, a thiophene ring substituent is identified as a bioactivation-dependent toxicophore in hepatocytes.

Simultaneous quantitation of metformin and sitagliptin from mouse and human dried blood spots using laser diode thermal desorption tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple, rapid and robust high-throughput assay for the simultaneous analysis of metformin and sitagliptin from mouse and human dried blood spot samples using laser diode thermal desorption interfaced with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LDTD-APCI-MS/MS) was developed for use in a pharmaceutical discovery environment as an alternative to traditional plasma analysis. Analytes were extracted from dried blood spots using a simple punch disc and solvent extract procedure. Details of the method development and optimization of the instrumental parameters are presented. The method was successfully applied to spiked mouse and human dried blood spot samples. Analyte stability was determined in dried blood spots on FTA cards and as extracts of dried blood spots. The method was subsequently used to determine the oral pharmacokinetics of metformin and sitagliptin after dosing to male mice. Metformin and Sitagliptin results are compared to data generated by more traditional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. Intra-assay and inter-assay accuracy and precision across the analytes and species deviated by less than 30% at all calibration levels and less than 20% at all quality control levels.

Determination of metformin in mouse, rat, dog and human plasma samples by laser diode thermal desorption/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple, rapid and robust high-throughput assay for the quantitative analysis of metformin in plasma from different species using laser diode thermal desorption interfaced with atmospheric chemical pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LDTD-APCI-MSMS) was developed for use in a pharmaceutical discovery environment. In order to minimize sample preparation a generic protein precipitation method was used to extract metformin from the plasma. Laser diode thermal desorption is a relatively new sample introduction method, the optimization of the instrumental parameters are presented. The method was successfully applied to spiked mouse, rat, dog and human plasma samples and was subsequently used to determine the oral pharmacokinetics of metformin after dosing to male rats in order to support drug discovery projects. The deviations for intra-assay accuracy and precision across the four species were less than 30% at all calibration and quality control levels.

Oxidation of caffeine by CYP1A2: isotope effects and metabolic switching.

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) has previously been shown to undergo metabolic switching in vivo when the N-1 or the N-7 methyl groups were trideuteromethylated [Horning et al. (1976) Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Stable Isotopes, pp 41-54]. We have examined the effect of replacing the N-3 methyl group with a trideuteromethyl group. The corresponding isotope effects can then be used to distinguish the kinetic mechanism by which four primary metabolites can be formed from one substrate by one cytochrome P450 (P450). We have synthesized 3-CD3-caffeine and 3-CD3-7-CD3-caffeine as well as trideuteromethylated analogs of each of the in vitro metabolites formed by cytochrome P4501A2. The observed competitive isotope effects for the metabolites, which do not result from deuterium abstraction (theobromine, theophylline), demonstrate that the nondissociative mechanism applies to caffeine metabolism by cytochrome P4501A2. Thus, there must be equilibration of the kinetically distinguishable activated P450-substrate complexes at rates competitive with hydrogen abstraction. The true isotope effects for the N-3 demethylation of caffeine were derived from the ratios of the amount of paraxanthine relative to the amount of theobromine or theophylline. The resultant ratios indicate that these isotope effects are essentially intrinsic. Observation of the isotope effects on N-3 demethylation was facilitated by branching to the minor in vitro metabolites as well as water formation. Product release is not rate-limiting for this system.