Interpretation of Protein-Mediated Uptake of Statins by Hepatocytes Is Confounded by the Residual Statin-Protein Complex.

Inclusion of plasma (or plasma proteins) in human hepatocyte uptake studies narrows, but does not close, the gap in in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP)-mediated hepatic clearance (CLh) of statins. We have previously shown that this "apparent" protein-mediated uptake effect (PMUE) of statins by OATP1B1-expressing cells, in the presence of 5% human serum albumin (HSA), is mostly an artifact caused by residual statin-HSA complex remaining in the uptake assay. We determined if the same was true with plated human hepatocytes (PHH) and if this artifact can be reduced using suspended human hepatocytes (SHH) and the oil-spin method. We quantified the uptake of a cocktail of five statins by PHH and SHH in the absence and presence of 5% HSA. After terminating the uptake assay, the amount of residual HSA was quantified by quantitative targeted proteomics. For both PHH and SHH, except for atorvastatin and cerivastatin, the increase in total, active, and passive uptake of the statins, in the presence of 5% HSA, was explained by the estimated residual stain-HSA complex. In addition, the increase in active statin uptake by SHH, where present, was marginal (<50%), much smaller than that observed with PHH. Such a marginal increase cannot bridge the gap in IVIVE of CLh of statins. These data disprove the prevailing hypotheses for the in vitro PMUE. A true PMUE should be evaluated using the uptake data corrected for the residual drug-protein complex. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We show that the apparent protein-mediated uptake (PMUE) of statins by human hepatocytes is largely confounded by residual statin when plated or suspended human hepatocytes are used. Therefore, mechanisms other than PMUE need to be explored to explain the underprediction of the in vivo human hepatic clearance of statins by human hepatocyte uptake assays.

Prediction of Transporter-Mediated Rosuvastatin Hepatic Uptake Clearance and Drug Interaction in Humans Using Proteomics-Informed REF Approach.

Suspended, plated, or sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes are routinely used for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of transporter-mediated hepatic clearance (CL) of drugs. However, these hepatocyte models have been reported to underpredict transporter-mediated in vivo hepatic uptake CL (CL uptake,in vivo ) of some drugs. Therefore, we determined whether transporter-expressing cells (TECs) can accurately predict the CL uptake,in vivo of drugs. To do so, we determined the uptake CL (CL int,uptake,cells ) of rosuvastatin (RSV) by TECs (organic anion transporting polypeptides/Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide) and then scaled it to that in vivo by relative expression factor (REF) (the ratio of transporter abundance in human livers and TEC) determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics. Both the TEC and hepatocyte models did not meet our predefined success criteria of predicting within 2-fold the RSV CL uptake,in vivo value obtained from our positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. However, the TEC performed better than the hepatocyte models. Interestingly, using REF, TECs successfully predicted RSV CL int,uptake,hep obtained by the hepatocyte models, suggesting that the underprediction of RSV CL uptake,in vivo by TECs and hepatocytes is due to endogenous factor(s) not present in these in vitro models. Therefore, we determined whether inclusion of plasma (or albumin) in TEC uptake studies improved IVIVE of RSV CL uptake,in vivo It did, and our predictions were close to or just fell above our lower 2-fold acceptance boundary. Despite this success, additional studies are needed to improve transporter-mediated IVIVE of hepatic uptake CL of drugs. However, using REF and TEC, we successfully predicted the magnitude of PET-imaged inhibition of RSV CL uptake,in vivo by cyclosporine A. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We showed that the in vivo transporter-mediated hepatic uptake CL of rosuvastatin, determined by PET imaging, can be predicted (within 2-fold) from in vitro studies in transporter-expressing cells (TECs) (scaled using REF), but only when plasma proteins were included in the in vitro studies. This conclusion did not hold when plasma proteins were absent in the TEC or human hepatocyte studies. Thus, additional studies are needed to improve in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of transporter-mediated drug CL.

Successful Prediction of In Vivo Hepatobiliary Clearances and Hepatic Concentrations of Rosuvastatin Using Sandwich-Cultured Rat Hepatocytes, Transporter-Expressing Cell Lines, and Quantitative Proteomics.

We determined whether in vivo transporter-mediated hepatobiliary clearance (CL) and hepatic concentrations of rosuvastatin (RSV) in the rat could be predicted by transport activity in sandwich-cultured rat hepatocytes (SCRHs) and/or transporter-expressing cell lines scaled by differences in transporter protein expression between SCRHs, cell lines, and rat liver. The predicted hepatobiliary CLs and hepatic concentrations of RSV were compared with our previously published positron emission tomography imaging data. Sinusoidal uptake CL ([Formula: see text]) and efflux (canalicular and sinusoidal) CLs of [3H]-RSV in SCRHs were evaluated in the presence and absence of Ca2+ and in the absence and presence of 1 mM unlabeled RSV (to estimate passive diffusion CL). [Formula: see text] of RSV into cells expressing organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp) 1a1, 1a4, and 1b2 was also determined. Protein expression of Oatps in SCRHs and Oatp-expressing cells was quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. SCRHs well predicted the in vivo RSV sinusoidal and canalicular efflux CLs but significantly underestimated in vivo [Formula: see text]. Oatp expression in SCRHs was significantly lower than that in the rat liver. [Formula: see text], based on RSV [Formula: see text] into Oatp-expressing cells (active transport) plus passive diffusion CL in SCRHs, scaled by the difference in protein expression in Oatp cells versus SCRH versus rat liver, was within 2-fold of that observed in SCRHs or in vivo. In vivo hepatic RSV concentrations were well predicted by Oatp-expressing cells after correcting [Formula: see text] for Oatp protein expression. This is the first demonstration of the successful prediction of in vivo hepatobiliary CLs and hepatic concentrations of RSV using transporter-expressing cells and SCRHs.

Transport Kinetics, Selective Inhibition, and Successful Prediction of In Vivo Inhibition of Rat Hepatic Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides.

For successful in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation of hepatic drug uptake and drug-drug interactions (DDI), it is important to characterize the kinetic properties of the individual transporters involved, their fraction (ft) contribution to hepatic uptake, and their selective inhibitors. Here, we characterized the in vitro transport kinetics of two model drugs, rosuvastatin (RSV) and olmesartan acid (OLM), by rat hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptides (Oatp1a1, 1a4, and 1b2) and identified selective inhibitors of these transporters. [3H]-RSV was transported by Oatp1a1, 1a4, and 1b2, and their Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) values were estimated to be 9.61, 67.2, and 28.1 µM, respectively. In contrast, [3H]-OLM was transported by only Oatp1b2 (Km: 72.8 µM). Digoxin (IC50: 0.107 µM) and rifamycin SV (IC50: 0.140 and 0.088 µM for RSV and OLM, respectively) were potent and selective inhibitors of Oatp1a4 and 1b2, respectively, and glyburide (100 µM) completely inhibited all three rat hepatic Oatps. These inhibitors can therefore be used alone and in combination to determine the contribution of each Oatp to hepatic influx. In addition, the magnitude of in vivo inhibition of sinusoidal uptake clearance of RSV by rifampin was well predicted using rifampin IC50 profiles for each Oatps and RSV ft by each Oatp. This is the first report to 1) detail the transport kinetics of RSV and OLM by rat hepatic Oatps, 2) identify selective inhibitor concentrations of rat Oatps, and 3) demonstrate successful prediction of the magnitude of transporter-mediated in vivo DDI from IC50 profiles of an inhibitor and ft of a drug by each transporter.

Suppression of activation of muscle sympathetic nerve during non-noxious local cooling after the end of local cooling in normal adults.

PURPOSE: While non-noxious local cooling is widely used in physical medicine, its effect on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and cardiovascular regulation are not clear. The purpose of the present study was to assess the responses of MSNA, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and local blood flow during non-noxious local cooling. METHODS: The study included two protocols. Both protocols consisted of 10-min rest in supine position, followed by 15-min local cooling (15 °C) of the shin and anterior foot, and 20-min recovery. MSNA of the right common peroneal nerve, BP, HR, and shin skin temperature (TSK) were recorded in eight men in the first protocol, while leg blood flow (LBF) was measured in the same subjects by strain-gauge plethysmography in the second protocol. RESULTS: TSK gradually decreased from 31.5 ± 0.02 to 16.0 ± 1.01 °C (mean ± SEM) during local cooling, and gradually increased after the end of local cooling. No subject complained of pain, and BP and HR remained constant. The MSNA burst rate increased significantly (p < 0.05) to 141.1 ± 12.5 % during local cooling, but decreased significantly (p < 0.05) to 73.6 ± 5.9 % during the recovery period. Total MSNA also increased to 148.0 ± 14.2 % (p < 0.05) during local cooling, and decreased to 74.0 ± 13.9 % (p < 0.05) at recovery. LBF remained constant through the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MSNA is activated by non-noxious local cooling, and attenuated after the end of local cooling without any changes in HR and BP.

The role of the equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 on tissue and fetal distribution of ribavirin in the mouse.

Ribavirin is used for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) expressed in hepatocytes transports ribavirin into the liver, the site of efficacy of the drug. However, it is still unclear whether ENT1 plays a dominant role in the hepatic distribution of the drug in vivo. In addition, due to fetal toxicity, administration of ribavirin to pregnant women with HCV infection is contraindicated. ENT1 might play a role in the fetal distribution and therefore the fetal toxicity of ribavirin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo contribution of ENT1 to the tissue distribution of ribavirin. When compared with that in Ent1(+/+) mice, the ribavirin tissue to plasma concentration ratio (including phosphorylated metabolites) in Ent1(-/-) mice at 15 min and 6 h after intravenous [(3) H]-ribavirin (3 mg/kg) administration was consistently and significantly decreased in the liver and the pancreas. Likewise, when compared with the Ent1(+/+) mice, the fetal distribution of ribavirin at 15 min after administration was significantly reduced in Ent1(-/-) fetuses and placenta. In contrast, there was no significant difference between Ent1(+/+), Ent1(+/-) and Ent1(-/-) mice in the fetal or placental to maternal plasma ribavirin concentration ratio at 2 h after ribavirin administration. The findings in the present study suggest that ENT1 plays a pivotal role in the distribution of ribavirin into tissues including the liver and pancreas, but affects only the rate, but not the extent, of ribavirin distribution into the fetus. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Plasma concentrations of tadalafil in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: There is no report documenting the plasma concentrations of tadalafil in children. This study was performed to evaluate the variability in the pharmacokinetics of tadalafil in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treated routinely with the drug. METHODS: Plasma samples were taken twice (post- and predose) after repetitive oral administration, and the pharmacokinetic parameters (CL/F and V/F) in individual patients were estimated by the Bayesian method using the nonlinear mixed effects model. We also determined the unbound concentration of tadalafil using ultrafiltration. RESULTS: Tadalafil was administered to 23 children aged between 0.25 and 17.4 years, with a mean age of 3.58 years. The mean (±SD) daily dose of tadalafil was 0.97 ± 0.41 mg/kg. Sixteen of the 23 children received bosentan concomitantly. The mean CL/F and V/F values of tadalafil were 0.149 L·h-1·kg-1 and 1.87 L/kg, respectively, which were higher than those reported in adults. No effects of age, bosentan, or the estimated glomerular filtration rate were observed on the CL/F value, indicating that other residual factors might account for the interindividual variability among children with PAH. The unbound tadalafil concentrations of the postdose samples ranged from 5.9 to 146 (46.9 ± 37.1) nmol/L, higher than the reported IC50 value of this phosphodiesterase-5 drug for humans (2-4 nmol/L, corresponding to 0.8-1.6 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated variability in the total and unbound plasma concentrations of tadalafil in children. However, all children received the empirical doses of the drug; a mean dose of 0.97 mg·kg-1·d-1 showed sufficient unbound concentrations needed for half-maximal inhibition of human phosphodiesterase-5 in vitro. These observations may provide information for the proper use of tadalafil to treat children with PAH.

Membrane transport mechanisms of choline in human intestinal epithelial LS180 cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the membrane transport mechanisms of choline using human intestinal epithelial LS180 cells. The mRNA of choline transporter-like proteins (CTLs) was expressed significantly in LS180 cells, and the rank order was CTL1 > CTL4 > CTL3 > CTL2 > CTL5. In contrast, the mRNA expression of other choline transporters, organic cation transporter (OCT) 1, OCT2 and high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), was considerably lower in LS180 cells. Five mm unlabelled choline, hemicolinium-3 and guanidine, but not tetraethylammonium, inhibited the cellular uptake of 100 µm choline in LS180 cells. The uptake of choline into LS180 cells was virtually Na(+)-independent. The uptake of choline was significantly decreased by acidification of the extracellular pH; however, it was not increased by alkalization of the extracellular pH. In addition, both acidification and alkalization of intracellular pH decreased the uptake of choline, indicating that the choline uptake in LS180 cells is not stimulated by the outward H(+) gradient. On the other hand, the uptake of choline was decreased by membrane depolarization along with increasing extracellular K(+) concentration. In addition, the Na(+)-independent uptake of choline was saturable, and the Km value was estimated to be 108 µm. These findings suggest that the uptake of choline into LS180 cells is membrane potential-dependent, but not outward H(+) gradient-dependent.

Pharmacokinetic variability of flecainide in younger Japanese patients and mechanisms for renal excretion and intestinal absorption.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the variability of pharmacokinetics of flecainide in young Japanese patients and to investigate the mechanisms of renal excretion and intestinal absorption of the drug using cultured epithelial cells. First the plasma concentration data of flecainide was analysed in 16 Japanese patients aged between 0.07 and 18.30 years using a one-compartment model. Considerable interindividual variability was observed in the oral clearance (CL/F) and the apparent volume of distribution (V/F) of flecainide in the young patients. Flecainide was transported selectively in the basolateral-to-apical direction in P-glycoprotein-expressing renal epithelial LLC-GA5-COL150 cell monolayers. The uptake of flecainide into intestinal epithelial LS180 cells was decreased significantly by acidification of the extracellular medium, and was inhibited by tertiary amines, such as diphenhydramine and quinidine. These findings in the present study suggest that flecainide is excreted by P-glycoprotein in the renal tubule and is taken up by the postulated H(+)/tertiary amine antiporter in the intestine, and that functional variability of not only the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, but also the transporters in the kidney and intestine, may be responsible for the interindividual variability of systemic clearance (CL) and/or the bioavailability (F) of flecainide.

Effect of chronic hypoxic hypoxia on oxidation and glucuronidation of carvedilol in rats.

Heart failure is accompanied with tissue (circulatory) hypoxia, and the metabolism of several drugs has been reported to be reduced in heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of another type of respiratory hypoxia, hypoxic hypoxia (FiO2 15 % for 24 h followed by FiO2 10 % for 9 days) on the metabolism of carvedilol enantiomers in rats. Oxidation of carvedilol in rat liver microsomes was evaluated in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, whereas glucuronidation was evaluated in the presence of UDP-glucuronic acid. Both oxidation and glucuronidation activities for two carvedilol enantiomers in hypoxic rat liver microsomes were similar to those in control rat liver microsomes. We also performed pharmacokinetic analysis of carvedilol enantiomers following intraportal infusion in control and hypoxic rats. The mean (±S.E.) portal clearance value of R- and S-carvedilol in control rats was 72 ± 16 and 156 ± 31 ml/min/kg, respectively, whereas that of the R- and S-enantiomers in hypoxic rats was 68 ± 8 and 113 ± 14 ml/min/kg, respectively. These findings indicated that the metabolism of carvedilol enantiomers was not significantly diminished in rats with chronic hypoxic hypoxia, and that other factor(s) besides hypoxia may be responsible for the reduced drug metabolism in heart failure.

Utilization of OATP1B Biomarker Coproporphyrin-I to Guide Drug-Drug Interaction Risk Assessment: Evaluation by the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) involving hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B1/1B3 (OATP1B) can be substantial, however, challenges remain for predicting interaction risk. Emerging evidence suggests that endogenous biomarkers, particularly coproporphyrin-I (CP-I), can be used to assess in vivo OATP1B activity. The present work under the International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development was aimed primarily at assessing CP-I as a biomarker for informing OATP1B DDI risk. Literature and unpublished CP-I data along with pertinent in vitro and clinical DDI information were collected to identify DDIs primarily involving OATP1B inhibition and assess the relationship between OATP1B substrate drug and CP-I exposure changes. Static models to predict changes in exposure of CP-I, as a selective OATP1B substrate, were also evaluated. Significant correlations were observed between CP-I area under the curve ratio (AUCR) or maximum concentration ratio (Cmax R) and AUCR of substrate drugs. In general, the CP-I Cmax R was equal to or greater than the CP-I AUCR. CP-I Cmax R < 1.25 was associated with absence of OATP1B-mediated DDIs (AUCR < 1.25) with no false negative predictions. CP-I Cmax R < 2 was associated with weak OATP1B-mediated DDIs (AUCR < 2). A correlation was identified between CP-I exposure changes and OATP1B1 static DDI predictions. Recommendations for collecting and interpreting CP-I data are discussed, including a decision tree for guiding DDI risk assessment. In conclusion, measurement of CP-I is recommended to inform OATP1B inhibition potential. The current analysis identified changes in CP-I exposure that may be used to prioritize, delay, or replace clinical DDI studies.

Population pharmacokinetics of mizoribine in pediatric recipients of renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: An immunosuppressive agent, mizoribine, is excreted predominantly in the urine. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic variability of mizoribine in pediatric recipients of renal transplantation. METHODS: Pharmacokinetic data for population analysis were collected from 51 recipients (32 males and 19 females) treated with oral administration of mizoribine (0.83-5.56 mg/day/kg). The population pharmacokinetic parameters of mizoribine were estimated using a nonlinear mixed effects model program. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of mizoribine in pediatric recipients of renal transplantation was well described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption. The mean value of the absorption lag time (ALAG) and absorption rate constant (K (A)) was estimated to be 0.363 h and 0.554 h(-1), respectively. Apparent volume of distribution (V/F) was modeled as a function of body weight (WT), and the mean value was estimated to be 1.03 · WT L. Oral clearance (CL/F) was modeled as a function of creatinine clearance (CL(cr)), and the mean value was estimated to be 2.81 · CL(cr) · 60/1000 L/h. In addition, there was a positive correlation between CL(cr)-corrected CL/F and WT-corrected V/F in the pediatric recipients, indicating large interindividual variability in the bioavailability (F) of mizoribine. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicated that the rate of renal excretion and also the extent of intestinal absorption of mizoribine are responsible for the large interindividual pharmacokinetic variability of the drug.

Comparison of the usefulness of the cardio-ankle vascular index and augmentation index as an index of arteriosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.

Arteriosclerosis leads to various serious diseases that substantially reduce the quality of life. When treating hypertension, it is important to evaluate the degree of arteriosclerosis. In recent years, the cardio-ankle vascular index and augmentation index have been frequently used as indicators of arterial wall sclerosis. However, the superiority of either the cardio-ankle vascular index or the augmentation index as an index of arteriosclerosis remains unclear. Therefore, the present study compared the usefulness of these two indices as an index of arteriosclerosis. Associations between the cardio-ankle vascular index or augmentation index and risk factors for arteriosclerosis and other indices of arteriosclerosis in 535 consecutive patients with essential hypertension were evaluated. The cardio-ankle vascular index was significantly correlated with age, hemoglobin A1c, brain natriuretic peptide, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. In contrast, the augmentation index showed significant correlations only with age, brain natriuretic peptide, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. In addition, these correlations with the augmentation index were generally weaker than those with the cardio-ankle vascular index. The cardio-ankle vascular index, but not the augmentation index, was significantly correlated with flow-mediated dilation, an index of vascular endothelial function, and carotid intima-media thickness, an index of carotid atherosclerosis. Similar results were observed in subgroups stratified by sex and age. These data indicate that the cardio-ankle vascular index is more closely associated with risk factors for arteriosclerosis and other indices of arteriosclerosis than the augmentation index, suggesting that the cardio-ankle vascular index may be superior to the augmentation index as an index of arteriosclerosis.

Population pharmacokinetics of mizoribine in adult recipients of renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to estimate the population pharmacokinetic parameters of mizoribine in adult recipients of renal transplantation using a nonlinear mixed effects model (NONMEM) program. METHODS: Pharmacokinetic data for population analysis were retrospectively collected from 114 recipients (66 males and 48 females) routinely treated with oral administration of mizoribine (25-450 mg/day). The range of creatinine clearance (CL(cr)) was 7.6-136.1 mL/min (mean 49.2 mL/min). RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of mizoribine in adult recipients of renal transplantation was well described by a 1-compartment model with first-order absorption. The mean value of the absorption lag time (ALAG) and absorption rate constant (KA) was estimated to be 0.581 and 0.983 h(-1), respectively. Apparent volume of distribution (V/F) was modeled as a function of body weight (WT), and the mean value was estimated to be 0.858 × WT L. Oral clearance (CL/F) was modeled as a function of creatinine clearance (CL(cr)), and the mean value was estimated to be 1.80 × CL(cr) × 60/1000 L/h. In addition, there was a strong correlation between CL(cr)-corrected CL/F and WT-corrected V/F in the adult recipients, indicating large interindividual variability in bioavailability (F) of mizoribine. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggested that not only the rate of renal excretion but also the extent of intestinal absorption of mizoribine is responsible for the large interindividual pharmacokinetic variability of the drug.

Mechanisms for membrane transport of metformin in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms for membrane transport of metformin in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. The mRNA of not only organic cation transporter (OCT) 3, but also OCT1 and OCT2, was expressed in Caco-2 cells. The uptake of 100 µm metformin at the apical membrane of Caco-2 cells grown on porous filter membrane was significantly greater than that at the basolateral membrane. The apical uptake of 100 µm metformin in Caco-2 cells grown on plastic dishes was inhibited significantly by 1 mm unlabeled metformin, quinidine and pyrilamine, indicating that a specific transport system is involved in the apical uptake of metformin in Caco-2 cells. The apical uptake of 100 µm metformin in Caco-2 cells was decreased by acidification of the medium, but not increased by alkalization. In addition, carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (a protonophore) had no effect on the apical uptake of metformin in Caco-2 cells at apical medium pH 8.4. These findings suggested that the apical uptake of metformin in Caco-2 cells is mediated at least partly by OCTs, but that the postulated H(+) /tertiary amine antiport system is not responsible for the apical uptake of metformin.

Clearance prediction for Amgen molecules against Extended Clearance Classification System (ECCS) and future directions.

Early prediction of elimination pathways for new chemical entities can have a profound impact on drug discovery programs. The recently proposed Extended Clearance Classification System (ECCS) is a step in the right direction, providing a framework to help identify the major elimination pathway of a drug. A list of 42 Amgen small molecules was evaluated against the ECCS framework to assess its performance in retrospectively predicting their major elimination pathway. Here, we present a critical analysis of the chemical space defined by the ECCS framework with the aim of identifying its applicability and constraints. This evaluation highlights the critical need for periodic review and revision of ECCS, given that target constraints are moving molecules away from the traditional 'drug-like' physicochemical space.

A-type and B-type lamins initiate layer assembly at distinct areas of the nuclear envelope in living cells.

To investigate nuclear lamina re-assembly in vivo, Drosophila A-type and B-type lamins were artificially expressed in Drosophila lamin Dm(0)null mutant brain cells. Both exogenous lamin C (A-type) and Dm(0) (B-type) formed sub-layers at the nuclear periphery, and efficiently reverted the abnormal clustering of the NPC. Lamin C initially appeared where NPCs were clustered, and subsequently extended along the nuclear periphery accompanied by the recovery of the regular distribution of NPCs. In contrast, lamin Dm(0) did not show association with the clustered NPCs during lamina formation and NPC spacing recovered only after completion of a closed lamin Dm(0) layer. Further, when lamin Dm(0) and C were both expressed, they did not co-polymerize, initiating layer formation in separate regions. Thus, A and B-type lamins reveal differing properties during lamina assembly, with A-type having the primary role in organizing NPC distribution. This previously unknown complexity in the assembly of the nuclear lamina could be the basis for intricate nuclear envelope functions.

Inhibitory and stimulative effects of amiodarone on metabolism of carvedilol in human liver microsomes.

It was reported that coadministration of amiodarone with carvedilol increased the serum concentration to dose (C/D) ratio of S-carvedilol in patients with heart failure, but not of R-carvedilol. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of amiodarone and its metabolite on the metabolism of R- and S-carvedilol in human liver microsomes (HLM). Oxidation of carvedilol in HLM was evaluated in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), whereas glucuronidation was evaluated in the presence of uridine 5'-diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronic acid. The oxidation and glucuronidation activities of HLM for S-carvedilol were approximately 2- and 4-fold greater, respectively, than those for R-carvedilol. In the presence of amiodarone (50 microM) and/or desethylamiodarone (25 microM), the oxidation activity for R- and S-carvedilol decreased significantly. In contrast, the glucuronidation activity for R-carvedilol was increased 1.6- and 1.4-fold by amiodarone and desethylamiodarone, respectively, whereas the glucuronidation of S-carvedilol was only slightly changed by amiodarone and desethylamiodarone. These results suggested that inhibition of S-carvedilol oxidation by amiodarone and/or desethylamiodarone is implicated in the increased C/D ratio of S-carvedilol associated with coadministration of amiodarone. On the other hand, the stimulative effect of amiodarone and/or desethylamiodarone on the glucuronidation of R-carvedilol may compensate for the inhibitory effect of those on R-carvedilol oxidation.

Membrane transport mechanisms of quinidine and procainamide in renal LLC-PK1 and intestinal LS180 cells.

The aim of the present study was to compare the membrane transport mechanisms of procainamide with those of quinidine using renal epithelial LLC-PK(1) and intestinal epithelial LS180 cells. In LLC-PK(1) cells, the transcellular transport of 10 microM quinidine in the basolateral-to-apical direction was similar to that in the opposite direction, and 1 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) did not affect the transcellular transport of the drug. On the other hand, the transcellular transport of 10 microM TEA and procainamide in LLC-PK(1) cells was directional from the basolateral side to the apical side. In addition, this directional transcellular transport of procainamide was diminished in the presence of 1 mM TEA. In LS180 cells, the temperature-dependent cellular uptake of 100 microM quinidine and procainamide was markedly increased by alkalization of the apical medium, and was inhibited significantly by 1 mM several hydrophobic cationic drugs, but not by TEA. The rank order of the inhibitory effects of hydrophobic cationic drugs on the uptake of procainamide in LS180 cells was imipramine>quinidine>diphenhydramine asymptotically equal topyrilamine>procainamide, which was consistent with that on the uptake of quinidine. These findings suggested that procainamide (but not quinidine) was transported by cation transport systems in renal epithelial cells, but that both procainamide and quinidine were taken up by another cation transport system in intestinal epithelial cells.

[Transcriptomics-driven Evaluation on Liver Toxicity Using Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP)].

Because the liver is the primary target organ for chemicals and pharmaceuticals, evaluation of these substances' liver toxicity is of critical importance. New evaluation methods without animal testing (i.e., in vitro and/or in silico) are eagerly anticipated, both for animal welfare and for decreasing cost. Also, the importance of mechanistic interpretation of the output derived from non-animal testing has been increasing. Accordingly, we investigated the potential for evaluating liver toxicity by applying the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) from gene expression (GEx) data. A case study targeting hepatocellular fatty degeneration (HFD) is reported and discussed. We first identified the events detectable in an in vitro system by comparing the GEx data from the rat primary hepatocyte (in vitro) and rat liver (in vivo) treated with a chemical with the ability to induce HFD as one of the phenotypes in a 28-day repeated-dose toxicity test. Then, the scores based on GSEA were calculated after establishing the gene sets for each event leading to HFD. As a result, the mechanistic information leading to HFD was obtained from the score calculated based on the GSEA and the usefulness of the transcriptome-driven evaluation using AOP was demonstrated.