Silica@zirconia@poly(malic acid) nanoparticles: promising nanocarriers for theranostic applications.

Silica@zirconia@poly(malic acid) nanocarriers of 110 nm mean diameter were designed, synthesized and characterized for the targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic 99mTc to folate-overexpressing tumors. An important achievement was that a multifunctional l-(-)-malic-acid-based copolymer was formed in situ at the surface of the inorganic cores in a single synthetic step incorporating l-(-)-malic acid, ß-cyclodextrin rings, folic acid moieties, and polyethylene glycol chains. Morphological and in-depth structural analysis of the particles proved their core@shell structure. Stability experiments in aqueous media evidenced that stable suspensions can be obtained from the lyophilized powder in 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. During 14-day degradation experiments, the nanoparticles were found to be slowly dissolving (including inorganic core) in saline and also in total cell medium. An in vitro toxicity assay on hepatocytes showed a concentration-dependent decrease of cell viability down to 63 ± 1% at the highest applied concentration (0.5 mg ml-1). Proof of concept experiments of technetium-99m radiolabelling and in vivo labelling stability are presented.

Multidrug resistance protein 2-mediated estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide transport potentiation: in vitro-in vivo correlation and species specificity.

Multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) is a multispecific organic anion transporter expressed at important pharmacological barriers, including the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. At this location it is involved in the elimination of both endogenous and exogenous waste products, mostly as conjugates, to the bile. Estradiol-17beta-d-glucuronide (E(2)17betaG), a widely studied endogenous substrate of MRP2, was shown earlier to recognize two binding sites of the transporter in vesicular transport assays. MRP2 modulators (substrates and nonsubstrates) potentiate the transport of E(2)17betaG by MRP2. We correlated data obtained from studies of different complexities and investigated the species-specific differences between rat and human MRP2-mediated transport. We used vesicular transport assays, sandwich-cultured primary hepatocytes, and in vivo biliary efflux in rats. Our results demonstrate that the rat Mrp2 transporter, unlike the human MRP2, transports E(2)17betaG according to Michaelis-Menten type kinetics. Nevertheless, in the presence of modulator drugs E(2)17betaG transport mediated by the rat transporter also shows cooperative kinetics as potentiation of E(2)17betaG transport was observed in the vesicular transport assay. We also demonstrated that the potentiation exists both in rat and in human hepatocytes and in vivo in rats.

Glucuronidation of thyroxine in primary monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes: in vitro induction of UDP-glucuronosyltranferases by methylcholanthrene, clofibrate, and dexamethasone alone and in combination.

Induction of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) toward thyroxine (T4) and p-nitrophenol (pNP) by 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), dexamethasone (DEX), clofibrate (Cl), and MC combined with DEX or Cl was studied in rat hepatocyte culture. We have developed a sensitive method for the measurement of glucuronide conjugates of the two substrates based on HPLC analysis of culture medium. MC, Cl, or DEX increased the activity of T4 UGT. Combination of MC and Cl showed additive effect, enzyme activity was enhanced compared with either MC or Cl treatment alone (617, 441, and 217% of the control, respectively). Combination of MC and DEX did not result in higher T4 UGT activity than MC treatment alone. Both MC and DEX enhanced the pNP UGT activity (182 and 162% of the control, respectively). Combination of MC with DEX resulted in additive effect. Cl treatment did not affect pNP conjugation either alone or in combination with MC. Western blot analysis revealed that only the amount of UGT1A1 was elevated by Cl and DEX. In contrast, concentration of UGT1A6 was increased by MC. Previous studies demonstrated that UGT1A1 inducers like phenobarbital have no effect on T4 conjugation (). Our results suggest that Cl, a known inducer of UGT1A1, enhances the activity of other enzyme(s) involved in T4 glucuronidation as well. It is well documented that DEX potentiates the inductory effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon on UGT1A6 (). In our study, MC increased the rate of T4 glucuronidation, and DEX had no additional effect on this reaction, suggesting that UGT1A6 is not the only enzyme inducible by MC that can catalyze T4 conjugation.

The in vitro biosynthesis and stability measurement with agyl-glycuronide isoformes of the main metabolite of ipriflavone.

The formation and stability of 1-beta-glucuronide conjugate of the main metabolite of ipriflavone [7-(1-carboxy-ethoxy)-isoflavone] (CI)--were studied by using liver microsomes, hepatocytes, and isolated perfused liver of untreated and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) treated dog and rat, and human liver microsomes. MC treatment enhanced the rate of conjugation twice as much as that of the control in the microsomes of both dogs and rats. Conjugation of CI by microsomes results in two metabolites, both sensitive to pH and temperature. Other two glucuronide forms appeared in experiments with hepatocytes and perfused liver. Mass spectrometry supported. The conclusion, assumption that both metabolites produced by microsomes are glucuronide conjugate isoforms of CI, and that they could be distinguished according to the intensity of peaks on FAB-MIKE spectra. The beta-glucuronidase enzyme hydrolysed only the 1-beta-glucuronide isomer, the other, migrated form remained unchanged. D-saccharic-acid-1,4-lactone, a specific inhibitor of beta-glucuronidase enzyme, decreased the rate of enzymatic cleavage. Standard curves of CI were prepared by HPLC, and 1-beta-CI-glucuronide was quantified according to the amount of CI formed by hydrolysis. The stability of conjugates greatly depends on pH and temperature, and the rate of degradation and isomerization is sensitive to the value of both. Lowering the pH from 7.4 to 5.0 and the temperature from 37 degrees C to 18 degrees C increased the stability of glucuronides. Increasing the pH to 12.0 results in very rapid acyl migration and hydrolysis.

[Human drug metabolizing enzymes. II. Conjugation enzymes]. / Human gyógyszermetabolizáló enzimek. II. Konjugációs enzimek.

In this review we focus on human conjugation enzymes (UDP-glucuronyltransferases, methyl-trasferases, N-acetyl-transferases, O-acetyl-transferases, Amidases/carboxyesterases, sulfotransferases, Glutation-S-transferases and the enzymes involved in the conjugation with amino acids) that participate in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Although conjugation reactions in most of the cases result in detoxication, more and more publications prove that the reactions catalysed by these enzymes very often lead to activated molecules that may attack macromolecules (proteins, RNAs, DNAs), resulting in toxicity (liver, neuro-, embryotoxicity, allergy, carcinogenecity). We have summarised the data available on these enzymes concerning their catalytic profile and specificity, inhibition, induction properties, their possible role in the generation of toxic compounds, their importance in clinical practice and drug development.

[Mass spectrometry in the verification of pyrimethamine poisoning]. / Pyrimethamin intoxikáció tömegspektrometriás igazolása.

A 17 years old male patient with Pyrimethamin therapy was released from our department by emphasising the necessity of continuous control. A month later the patient was accepted again with serious anaemia. Since the patient did not follow the instructions Pyrimethamin intoxication was presumed, but it had to be proved. At last the drug in the plasma was identified and quantified by mass spectrometry. The plasma concentration of Pyrimethamin was five times higher than the therapeutic level. The rapid analysis (4 hours after taking of blood) and adequate treatment resulted in rapid improvement with the concomitant decrease of plasma Pyrimethamin concentration. During clinical treatment the level of Pyrimethamin in the plasma was followed by mass spectrometry.

Human liver cytochrome P-450 and conjugating enzymes. Hungarian data.

Cytochrome P-450 and the conjugating enzymes of the liver are the most important enzymes in the detoxification of xenobiotics. In order to get direct data in the Hungarian human population the activity of liver cytochrome P-450 enzymes (CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C19, 2D6, E1, 3A4) and of the conjugating enzymes has been determined in 11 Hungarian tissue donors died in accidents or in brain vascular catastrophe, by using specific enzymic reactions. In the activity of cytochrome P-450 enzymes a wide range has been found, a ten-fold difference being rather common. In the activities of conjugating enzymes the differences seem to be less.

Species differences in metabolism of panomifene, an analogue of tamoxifen.

In vitro metabolism of panomifene (E-1,2-diphenyl-1--4-(2-(2-hydroxyethyl-amino)-ethoxy)-phenyl--3,3,3- trifluoropropene), a novel antiestrogen against hormone dependent tumors, has been investigated using liver microsomes from mouse, rat, dog, and human. Hydroxylation and side chain modifications were the routes of panomifene metabolism. Microsomal biotransformation showed some qualitative similarities, but several differences were observed in the metabolic profiles of the four species tested. Seven metabolites were detected in the incubation mixtures analyzed by thin layer chromatography and autoradiography, although there was only one produced by all species that had lost the side chain. Among the side chain shortened metabolites, the compound that had lost the hydroxyethyl-amino group was formed by the microsomal system of rodents, whereas the one that had lost the hydroxyethyl group was detected in the incubation mixtures with rat, dog, and human microsomes. Three metabolites (M1, M3, and M4) were produced exclusively by the dog. The structure of M3 was identified by mass spectroscopy as 4-hydroxy-panomifene. Furthermore, human liver microsomes formed a metabolite (M8) that was not detectable in the mixtures with mouse, rat, or dog microsomes. Its structure is suspected to be an oxidized form of panomifene with a double bound in the side chain. The structure of panomifene is analogous to tamoxifen, an antiestrogen currently used as a therapeutic agent against breast cancer, and there are some similar routes in their metabolism. The main difference is that the rate of tamoxifen biotransformation seems faster than that of panomifene. On the other hand, 4-hydroxy-panomifene is produced by only dog, while 4-hydroxylated derivative is one of the main metabolites of tamoxifen that has potent antiestrogenic activity and is considered to be responsible for the formation of DNA-adducts.

Ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of two thyroxine glucuronides formed by rat liver microsomes.

A simple reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic separation method has been developed for thyroxine (T4) and its glucuronide metabolites formed by liver microsomes of untreated and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. Besides the phenol-T4-glucuronide, another, probably acyl-T4-glucuronide, formation has been detected. The effect of pH and temperature on the stability of the acyl-T4-glucuronide was also investigated. The lowering of pH to 2 and cooling the samples to 5 degrees C is necessary to prevent the hydrolysis of acylglucuronide, while both pH and temperature do not affect the stability of the phenol-T4-glucuronide. The retention times of T4 and phenol-T4-glucuronide are highly influenced by the pH of the mobile phase, but not that of acyl-T4-glucuronide.

Xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in fish: diversity, regulation and biomarkers for pollutant exposure.

Cytochromes P450 play key roles in biotransformation of pollutant chemicals and in the activation or inactivation of many toxic or carcinogenic compounds. Multiple P450 isozymes have been purified from different fish species. Fish monooxygenase activity shows temperature compensation and sex-related variation. Several xenobiotics can induce cytochrome P450 monooxygenases altering toxicity of chemical contaminants. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can increase transcription of CYP1A gene in fish as it has been observed in mammals, but phenobarbital-type agents do not induce in fish at all. The presence of conjugation enzymes in fish has also been proved, although their induction by xenobiotics is poorly investigated. Since exposure of fish to environmental contaminants can result in the induction of specific cytochrome P450 enzymes, monitoring of their catalytic activities can identify polluted areas.

Differential induction of 3-ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyrido (1,2-alpha)pyrimidin-4-one metabolism by phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene in microsomes and isolated perfused rat liver.

1. The in vitro metabolism of 3-ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4H-[2-14C]pyrido(1,2-alpha)pyrimidin-4-one (PYPY) was studied in liver microsomes and isolated perfused liver of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) or phenobarbital (PB)-treated, and untreated rats. 2. Hydroxylation of the alkyl substituents was the main metabolic pathway for PYPY in both in vitro systems of untreated, and MC-treated animals, but with different proportions of the metabolites. PB enhanced the rate of ring hydroxylation, especially in the microsomes, and the product of this reaction became the main metabolite of PYPY biotransformation. Ring hydroxylation reactions in the microsomes and in the isolated perfused liver led to different products. 3. Differences arose in the rate of some oxidative reactions measured in the two in vitro systems resulting in altered metabolic patterns. PB enhanced not only quantitative but qualitative differences in the two systems. 4. The altered metabolite profile observed with whole liver compared with the products of microsomes, and the enhanced amount of water-soluble metabolites due to PB treatment in experiments with perfused liver indicate the involvement of further metabolic processes, perhaps conjugation reactions, in PYPY metabolism in the perfused liver. 5. The differences observed in the inducibility of some oxidative reactions by MC and PB indicate the involvement of at least three distinct cytochrome P-450 isozymes in the metabolism of PYPY.

Identification of in vitro metabolites of 3-ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyrido(1,2a)pyrimidin-4-one.

(2-14C)3-Ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyrido(1,2a)pyrimidin-4-one is metabolized in vitro by liver microsomes to at least 12 metabolites. The metabolites were isolated and purified by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The mostly mono- and dihydroxylated isomers were distinguished on the bases of their electron ionization mass spectra and the metastable daughter ion spectra of selected ions.