NUDT15 R139C causes thiopurine-induced early severe hair loss and leukopenia in Japanese patients with IBD.

The efficacy of thiopurines, including azathioprine (AZA) and 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), has been demonstrated for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The most common and serious adverse event of treatment with thiopurines altered by doctors is leukopenia. Hair loss is also a serious event that could be a critical reason for patients to decline thiopurine treatment. Thiopurine-induced severe hair loss causes cosmetic problems, and it takes a long time to recover. In a recent study, NUDT15 R139C was strongly associated with thiopurine-induced leukopenia in Korean and Caucasian populations. In this study, we performed an association study to investigate and replicate the association of R139C with adverse events of thiopurines in Japanese patients. A total of 142 Japanese patients with IBD, with histories of thiopurine treatment, were examined. NUDT15 R139C was genotyped using a custom TaqMan genotyping assay. Adverse events including leukopenia were reviewed from medical records. The 6MP dose was adjusted to AZA equivalents by multiplying with 2 as a thiopurine dose. Five patients developed severe hair loss and all of them were risk homozygous (T/T) for R139C. No early severe hair loss was observed in patients with the C/T or C/C genotype (P=3.82 × 10(-16), odds ratio=212). The association of R139C with early (<8 weeks) leukopenia (white blood cells<3000 mm(-3)), which was previously reported in Korean patients, was replicated in our Japanese IBD cohort (P=1.92 × 10(-16), odds ratio=28.4). However, we could not confirm the association with late leukopenia in the Japanese subjects. Patients with the C/T genotype discontinued treatment or required thiopurine dose reduction significantly earlier than patients with the C/C genotype (P=1.45 × 10(-4)); however, on manipulating the doses, there was no significant difference in the thiopurine continuation rates between the groups. In the maintenance period, the frequencies of 6MP usage were higher, and the doses of thiopurines were significantly lower in patients with the C/T genotype than in those with the C/C genotype (0.574±0.316 mg kg(-1) per day vs 1.03±0.425 mg kg(-1) per day, P=6.21 × 10(-4)). NUDT R139C was significantly associated with early severe hair loss in Japanese patients with IBD. We also verified the previously reported association of R139C with early leukopenia in a different East Asian population. It is recommended that treatment with thiopurines should be avoided for patients with the T/T genotype. Low-dose 6MP (0.2-0.3 mg kg(-1) per day) could be used rather than AZA for the patients with C/T genotype to continue thiopurine treatments. However, late leukopenia and other several adverse events could not be completely predicted by R139C genotypes.

Complete reversibility of physiological coronary vascular abnormalities in hypertrophied hearts produced by pressure overload in the rat.

Using an experimental model of ascending aortic banding in the rat, we examined whether coronary circulation abnormalities in hypertrophied hearts are reversible after debanding. 4-wk banding produced significant increases in in vivo left ventricular (LV) pressure (194 +/- 13 vs. 114 +/- 9 mmHg in shamoperated controls) and LV dry wt/body wt (48 +/- 5% above controls). In isolated hearts perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer, coronary flow rate (CFR) was estimated under nonworking conditions. During maximal vasodilation after 1 min-ischemia, CFR at a coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) of 100 mmHg and CFR/myocardidial mass at CPPs of 100 and 150 mmHg decreased significantly (72 +/- 5%; 53 +/- 4 and 61 +/- 4% of controls). 1 or 4 wk after debanding, LV systolic pressures were similar to control values, and the degree of myocardial hypertrophy decreased to levels 23 +/- 6 (P less than 0.01) and 11 +/- 6% (P less than 0.01) above their control values, respectively. At 1 wk there was no significant increase in CFR/myocardial mass, compared to values in the banded group (67 +/- 8 vs. 53 +/- 4% of controls at 100 mmHg and 67 +/- 9 vs. 61 +/- 4% at 150 mmHg of CPP). At 4 wk, CFR and the ratio had increased toward normal. Thus, decreased coronary perfusion in hypertrophied hearts is completely reversible.

Inhibitory effect of several fluoroquinolones on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 1A activities in dogs.

We examined inhibitory effects of ofloxacin (OFX), orbifloxacin (OBFX), ciprofloxacin (CFX), enrofloxacin (EFX) and norfloxacin (NFX) on cytochrome P-450 1A (CYP1A) activities using hepatic microsomes from four beagle dogs. Ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylation was referred as CYP1A activities. All the fluoroquinolones inhibited the reaction in a noncompetitive manner. The determined inhibitory constants were the followings; 10.1 +/- 3.8 mM for OFX, 6.43 +/- 2.01 mM for OBFX, 0.726 +/- 0.134 mM for CFX, 4.06 +/- 1.19 mM for EFX and 4.75 +/- 1.63 mM for NFX respectively. As these values are >100-fold of plasma concentrations after a clinical single dose of the fluoroquinolones, it is suggested that the inhibitory effect on CYP1A activities is not so high to elicit drug-drug interaction with CYP1A substrates, when these fluoroquinolones are co-administered. Mechanism based inhibition was also examined in this study. Of the five fluoroquinolones examined, OFX, OBFX and CFX had this inhibition manner. As this inhibition is irreversible, inhibitory effects of the three fluoroquinolones may accumulate, when they are repeatedly administered. Therefore, OFX, OBFX and CFX may result in substantial drug-drug interaction with a CYP1A substrate even in clinical states. As EFX is metabolized to CFX in the body, it may also have the same possibility.

Multiple oral dosing of ketoconazole influences pharmacokinetics of quinidine after intravenous and oral administration in beagle dogs.

In this study, we investigated the effect of multiple oral dosing of ketoconazole (KTZ) on pharmacokinetics of quinidine (QN), a CYP3A substrate with low hepatic clearance, after i.v. and oral administration in beagle dogs. Four dogs were given p.o. KTZ for 20 days (200 mg, b.i.d.). QN was administered either i.v. (1 mg/kg) or p.o. (100 mg) 10 and 20 days before the KTZ treatment and 10 and 20 days after start of KTZ treatment. Multiple oral dosing of KTZ decreased significantly alpha and beta, whereas increased t(1/2beta), V(1), and k(a). The KTZ treatment also decreased significantly both total body clearance (Cl(tot)) and oral clearance (Cl(oral)). No significant change in bioavailability was observed in the presence of KTZ. Co-administration of KTZ increased C(max) of QN to about 1.5-fold. Mean resident time after i.v. administration (MRT(i.v.)), and after oral administration (MRT(p.o.)) of QN were prolonged to about twofold, whereas mean absorption time (MAT) was decreased to 50%. Volume of distribution at steady state (V(d(ss))) of QN was unchanged in the presence of KTZ. These alterations may be because of a decrease in metabolism of QN by inhibition of KTZ on hepatic CYP3A activity. In conclusion, multiple oral dosing of KTZ affected largely pharmacokinetics of QN after i.v. and oral administration in beagle dogs. Therefore, KTZ at a clinical dosing regimen may markedly change the pharmacokinetics of drugs primarily metabolized by CYP3A with low hepatic clearance in dogs. In clinical use, much attention should be paid to concomitant administration of KTZ with the drug when given either p.o. or i.v.

Effects of age on right ventricular hypertrophic response to pressure-overload in rats.

To examine the effects of age on hypertrophic response to pressure-overload in the right ventricle, we determined the rate and extent of hypertrophy in three age groups of Wistar rats: 2, 7 and 18 months. We created pulmonary artery constriction so that increases in right ventricular pressure were similar in those groups. One or 3 weeks after pulmonary artery constriction, the rats were sacrificed and hypertrophic response was estimated from right ventricular weight, myocyte width and protein content. In the 2-month-old rats, significant hypertrophy was observed 1 and 3 weeks after pulmonary artery constriction in terms of right ventricular weight/body weight (161% of controls at 1 week and 209% at 3 weeks), right ventricular weight/tibial length (161 and 251%, respectively) and right ventricular weight/left ventricular weight (174 and 211%, respectively). In the 7-month-old rats, significant hypertrophy was observed only at 3 weeks, but was not observed even at 3 weeks in the 18-month-old rats. The age-associated decrease and delay in hypertrophic response was also observed at cellular (myocyte width) and biochemical (protein content) levels. Thus, there is an age-associated diminution in the rate and extent of myocardial hypertrophy in the right ventricle.

Effects of altered plasma alpha-1-acid glycoprotein levels on pharmacokinetics of some basic antibiotics in pigs: simulation analysis.

Effects of altered plasma alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels on pharmacokinetic parameters of basic antimicrobials, erythromycin (EM), lincomycin (LM) and clindamycin (CM) were evaluated in pigs by simulation analysis. Intravenous (i.v.) injections of EM, LM and CM were performed to obtain pharmacokinetic parameters in healthy conditions. Binding parameters were obtained from an in vitro study using ultrafiltration. Simulation studies indicated that an increase of plasma AGP levels resulted in a decrease of both volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) and total body clearance (Cltot) for all the drugs. Elimination rate constant for LM was almost unchanged by an increase of plasma AGP levels, whereas those for EM and CM were increased. Plasma concentration-time profiles at a high AGP level (often observed in pathophysiological conditions) were also simulated. All of the total plasma concentration-time profiles were different from those at normal AGP level. The differences were characterized by a higher initial concentration with faster or similar elimination. Unbound plasma concentration-time profile of LM was unaffected by AGP levels, whereas EM and CM were eliminated from plasma more rapidly at high AGP level. These results suggested that adjustment of dosage regimen of EM and CM is required in pathophysiological conditions, but that of LM is not required.

Duration of pressure overload alters regression of coronary circulation abnormalities.

Using a rat model of ascending aortic banding and debanding, we examined how the duration of pressure overload affects reversibility in coronary circulation abnormalities after relief of pressure overload. Four-week banding increased left ventricular dry weight-to-body weight ratio to 158 +/- 8% of that of sham-operated controls. In isolated nonworking hearts perfused with crystalloid solution, peak mean coronary flow rate (CFR) was measured after brief ischemia. CFR and CFR/dry tissue weight significantly decreased (75 +/- 5 and 54 +/- 3% of that of controls at 100 mmHg of coronary perfusion pressure; 75 +/- 5 and 54 +/- 4% at 150 mmHg, respectively). Four weeks after debanding was performed, CFR and CFR/dry tissue weight increased to similar levels in controls. On the other hand, 10-wk banding produced the same degree of myocardial hypertrophy and decreases in CFR and CFR/dry tissue weight as in 4-wk banded rats. Four weeks after debanding was performed, CFR had not changed. CFR/dry tissue weight increased because of regression of myocardial hypertrophy but was significantly lower than that in rats debanded after 4 wk of banding. Thus the duration of pressure overload does not affect the degree of coronary circulation abnormalities in the progression process but does affect it in the regression process.

Aging effects on myocardial hypertrophic response and coronary circulation in pressure-overload.

We examined the effect of age on capacity for myocardial hypertrophy, pressure-generating ability and coronary circulation after imposition of pressure-overload. Marked right ventricular and cellular hypertrophy was observed 1 week after pulmonary artery constriction in the developmental phase of rats (2 months of age) and after 3 weeks in the young-adult rats (7 months). In old rats (18 months) similar increases in peak right ventricular pressure did not produce significant hypertrophy even after 3 weeks. The right ventricular hypertrophy at the organ and cell levels in response to pressure-overload decreased with age. In vivo pressure-generating ability, which was determined by maximum isovolumic pressure during pulmonary artery occlusion, correlated with the degree of myocardial hypertrophy in each age group. During the ascending aortic constriction experiment the age-associated diminution in hypertrophic response was also observed in the left ventricle. Coronary dilator capacity, which was determined after brief ischemia in an isolated, blood-perfused, beating but nonworking heart model, was decreased in the presence of myocardial hypertrophy in young-adult rats (7 months) and in the absence of significant myocardial hypertrophy in old rats (18 months). The age-associated diminution in capacity for myocardial hypertrophy, pressure-generating ability and maladaptation in the coronary circulation may explain the higher incidence of heart failure or increased vulnerability of the myocardium to ischemic episodes during hemodynamic stress in aged patients.