ABCG2/BCRP interaction with the sea grass Thalassia testudinum.

BACKGROUND: The aqueous ethanolic extract from leaves of the marine plant Thalassia testudinum has shown antioxidant, cytoprotective, and neuroprotective properties. The chemical composition of this extract, rich in polyphenols, could interfere with active transport of drugs out of the cell and circumvent the phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR). The extract can act as an MDR modulator through its interaction with efflux transporters. The ABCG2/BCRP has been shown to confer MDR acting in tumor cells. METHODS: To evaluate the interaction of ABCG2/BCRP with the extract, studies in cells overexpressing human BCRP transporter and its murine ortholog Bcrp1 were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: T. testudinum extract could be included as MDR modulator, as interaction with ABCG2/BCRP has been shown through flow cytometry and MTT assays. The cells overexpressing ABCG2/BCRP in the presence of the extract (25-150 µg/mL) decreased the survival rates of the anti-tumoral mitoxantrone. Our results support its inclusion as a possible MDR modulator against tumor cells that overexpress ABCG2/BCRP.

Structural determinants of peripheral O-arylcarbamate FAAH inhibitors render them dual substrates for Abcb1 and Abcg2 and restrict their access to the brain.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the main entry route for chemicals into the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Two transmembrane transporters of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family - breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2 in humans, Abcg2 in rodents) and P-glycoprotein (ABCB1 in humans, Abcb1 in rodents) - play a key role in mediating this process. Pharmacological and genetic evidence suggests that Abcg2 prevents CNS access to a group of highly potent and selective O-arylcarbamate fatty-acid amidohydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors, which include the compound URB937 (cyclohexylcarbamic acid 3'-carbamoyl-6-hydroxybiphenyl-3-yl ester). To define structure-activity relationships of the interaction of these molecules with Abcg2, in the present study we tested various peripherally restricted and non-restricted O-arylcarbamate FAAH inhibitors for their ability to serve as transport substrates in monolayer cultures of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney-II (MDCKII) cells over-expressing Abcg2. Surprisingly, we found that the majority of compounds tested - even those able to enter the CNS in vivo - were substrates for Abcg2 in vitro. Additional experiments in MDCKII cells overexpressing ABCB1 revealed that only those compounds that were dual substrates for ABCB1 and Abcg2 in vitro were also peripherally restricted in vivo. The extent of such restriction seems to depend upon other physicochemical features of the compounds, in particular the polar surface area. Consistent with these in vitro results, we found that URB937 readily enters the brain in dual knockout mice lacking both Abcg2 and Abcb1, whereas it is either partially or completely excluded from the brain of mice lacking either transporter alone. The results suggest that Abcg2 and Abcb1 act together to restrict the access of URB937 to the CNS.

Effects of triclabendazole on secretion of danofloxacin and moxidectin into the milk of sheep: role of triclabendazole metabolites as inhibitors of the ruminant ABCG2 transporter.

ATP-binding cassette transporter G2/breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2/BCRP) mediates drug-drug interactions that affect the secretion of drugs into milk. The aims of this study were: (1) to determine whether the major plasma metabolites of the flukicide triclabendazole (TCBZ), triclabendazole sulfoxide (TCBZSO) and triclabendazole sulfone (TCBZSO2), inhibit ovine and bovine ABCG2 and its Y581S variant in vitro, and (2) to examine whether coadministration of TCBZ with the ABCG2 substrates danofloxacin (a fluoroquinolone) and moxidectin (a milbemycin) affects the secretion of these drugs into the milk of sheep. TCBZSO and TCBZSO2 inhibited ruminant ABCG2 in vitro by reversing the reduced mitoxantrone accumulation and reducing basal to apical transport of nitrofurantoin in cells transduced with bovine variants (S581 and Y581) and the ovine variant of ABCG2. Coadministration of TCBZ with moxidectin or danofloxacin to sheep resulted in significantly reduced levels of moxidectin, but not danofloxacin, in the milk of TCBZ-treated sheep compared to sheep administered moxidectin or danofloxacin alone. The milk area under concentration time curve (AUC 0-48 h) was 2.99±1.41 µg h/mL in the group treated with TCBZ and moxidectin, and 7.75±3.58 µg h/mL in the group treated with moxidectin alone. The AUC (0-48 h) milk/plasma ratio was 37% lower in the group treated with TCBZ and moxidectin (7.34±1.51) than in the group treated with moxidectin alone (11.68±3.61). TCBZ metabolites appear to inhibit ruminant ABCG2 and affect the secretion of ABCG2 substrates into milk of sheep.

Inhibition of ABCG2/BCRP transporter by soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein: effect on plasma and milk levels of danofloxacin in sheep.

Danofloxacin is a synthetic fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent and a substrate for ATP-binding cassette transporter G2/breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2/BCRP). This protein actively extrudes drugs from cells in the intestine, liver, kidney, and other organs, such as the mammary gland. The purpose of this study was to determine whether genistein and daidzein, isoflavones present in soy and known inhibitors of ABCG2, could diminish danofloxacin secretion into milk. The results obtained from BCRP-transduced MDCK-II cells (Mardin-Darby canine kidney) showed that both isoflavones efficiently inhibited the in vitro transport of the drug. In addition, danofloxacin transport into milk was studied in Assaf sheep. The experimental design with ewes (n = 18) included ewes fed with standard forage, soy-enriched forage for 15 days prior to the experiment or standard forage paired with orally administered exogenous genistein and daidzein. The danofloxacin levels in the milk of ewes in the soy-enriched diet group were decreased. The area under concentration-time curve AUC (0-24 h) was 9.3 ± 4.6 vs. 16.58 ± 4.44 µgh/mL in the standard forage or control group. The plasma levels of danofloxacin were unmodified. The AUC (0-24 h) milk/plasma ratio decreased by over 50% in the soy-enriched diet group, compared to the control group (4.90 ± 2.65 vs. 9.58 ± 2.17). Exogenous administration of isoflavones did not modify danofloxacin secretion into milk. This study showed that milk excretion of a specific substrate of BCRP, such as danofloxacin, can be diminished by the presence of isoflavones in the diet.

The anthelmintic triclabendazole and its metabolites inhibit the membrane transporter ABCG2/BCRP.

ABCG2/BCRP is an ATP-binding cassette transporter that extrudes compounds from cells in the intestine, liver, kidney, and other organs, such as the mammary gland, affecting pharmacokinetics and milk secretion of antibiotics, anticancer drugs, and other compounds and mediating drug-drug interactions. In addition, ABCG2 expression in cancer cells may directly cause resistance by active efflux of anticancer drugs. The development of ABCG2 modulators is critical in order to improve drug pharmacokinetic properties, reduce milk secretion of xenotoxins, and/or increase the effective intracellular concentrations of substrates. Our purpose was to determine whether the anthelmintic triclabendazole (TCBZ) and its main plasma metabolites triclabendazole sulfoxide (TCBZSO) and triclabendazole sulfone (TCBZSO(2)) inhibit ABCG2 activity. ATPase assays using human ABCG2-enriched membranes demonstrated a clear ABCG2 inhibition exerted by these compounds. Mitoxantrone accumulation assays using murine Abcg2- and human ABCG2-transduced MDCK-II cells confirmed that TCBZSO and TCBZSO(2) are ABCG2 inhibitors, reaching inhibitory potencies between 40 and 55% for a concentration range from 5 to 25 µM. Transepithelial transport assays of ABCG2 substrates in the presence of both TCBZ metabolites at 15 µM showed very efficient inhibition of the Abcg2/ABCG2-mediated transport of the antibacterial agents nitrofurantoin and danofloxacin. TCBZSO administration also inhibited nitrofurantoin Abcg2-mediated secretion into milk by more than 2-fold and increased plasma levels of the sulfonamide sulfasalazine by more than 1.5-fold in mice. These results support the potential role of TCBZSO and TCBZSO(2) as ABCG2 inhibitors to participate in drug interactions and modulate ABCG2-mediated pharmacokinetic processes.

Bioavailability of the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of genistein and daidzein in breast cancer resistance protein 1 knockout mice.

The dietary polyphenols genistein and daidzein are potent effectors of biological processes. The plasma profile of both isoflavones is governed by the presence of phase II conjugates, mainly glucuronides and sulfates. Breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2/BCRP) interacts with genistein and daidzein, which are among the natural substrates of the transporter and competitively inhibit ABCG2-mediated drug efflux. ABCG2/BCRP can also transport glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. In this study, we analyzed the plasma levels of aglycones and derived conjugated metabolites, glucuronides, and sulfates, after intragastric administration of these isoflavones to wild-type and Bcrp1(-/-) knockout mice. The results show that overall plasmatic profile is mainly governed by sulfate and glucuronide derivatives, the concentration of which was significantly increased (7- to 10-fold) in Bcrp1(-/-) mice. The total AUC h nM (0-180 min), as the sum of aglycones, glucuronides, and sulfates, was 901 ± 207 in wild-type mice versus 4988 ± 508 in Bcrp1(-/-) mice after genistein administration (50 mg/kg b.wt.); 584.3 ± 90 in wild-type mice versus 4012 ± 612 in Bcrp1(-/-) after daidzein administration (50 mg/kg); and 926 ± 140 in wild-type mice versus 5174 ± 696 in Bcrp1(-/-) after genistein+daidzein administration (25 + 25 mg/kg). Therefore, our results indicate a direct and conclusive Bcrp1 efflux action on phase II metabolites of these isoflavones in vivo and suggest a possible novel concept for ABCG2/BCRP as part of metabolism-driven efflux transport of these conjugates.

The ABC membrane transporter ABCG2 prevents access of FAAH inhibitor URB937 to the central nervous system.

The O-arylcarbamate URB937 is a potent inhibitor of fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an intracellular serine hydrolase responsible for the deactivation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. URB937 is unique among FAAH inhibitors in that is actively extruded from the central nervous system (CNS), and therefore increases anandamide levels exclusively in peripheral tissues. Despite its limited distribution, URB937 exhibits marked analgesic properties in rodent models of pain. Pharmacological evidence suggests that the extrusion of URB937 from the CNS may be mediated by the ABC membrane transporter ABCG2 (also called Breast cancer resistance protein, BCRP). In the present study, we show that URB937 is a substrate for both mouse and human orthologues of ABCG2. The relative transport ratios for URB937 in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCKII) cells monolayers over-expressing either mouse Abcg2 or human ABCG2 were significantly higher compared to parental monolayers (13.6 and 13.1 vs. 1.5, respectively). Accumulation of the compound in the luminal/apical side was prevented by co-administration of the selective ABCG2 inhibitor, Ko-143. In vivo studies in mice showed that URB937 (25 mg kg(-1)) readily entered the brain and spinal cord of Abcg2-deficient mice following intraperitoneal administration, whereas the same dose of drug remained restricted to peripheral tissues in wild-type mice. By identifying ABCG2 as a transport mechanism responsible for the extrusion of URB937 from the CNS, the present results should facilitate the rational design of novel peripherally restricted FAAH inhibitors.