Human Ontogeny of Drug Transporters: Review and Recommendations of the Pediatric Transporter Working Group.

The critical importance of membrane-bound transporters in pharmacotherapy is widely recognized, but little is known about drug transporter activity in children. In this white paper, the Pediatric Transporter Working Group presents a systematic review of the ontogeny of clinically relevant membrane transporters (e.g., SLC, ABC superfamilies) in intestine, liver, and kidney. Different developmental patterns for individual transporters emerge, but much remains unknown. Recommendations to increase our understanding of membrane transporters in pediatric pharmacotherapy are presented.

Altered morphine glucuronide and bile acid disposition in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

The functional impact of altered drug transport protein expression on the systemic pharmacokinetics of morphine, hepatically derived morphine glucuronide (morphine-3- and morphine-6-glucuronide), and fasting bile acids was evaluated in patients with biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) compared to healthy subjects. The maximum concentration (Cmax ) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-last ) of morphine glucuronide in serum were increased in NASH patients (343 vs. 225 nM and 58.8 vs. 37.2 µM*min, respectively; P ≤ 0.005); morphine pharmacokinetics did not differ between groups. Linear regression analyses detected an association of NASH severity with increased morphine glucuronide Cmax and AUC0-last (P < 0.001). Fasting serum glycocholate, taurocholate, and total bile acid concentrations were associated with NASH severity (P < 0.006). Increased hepatic basolateral efflux of morphine glucuronide and bile acids is consistent with altered hepatic transport protein expression in patients with NASH and may partially explain differences in efficacy and/or toxicity of some highly transported anionic drugs/metabolites in this patient population.

Mechanistic Modeling Reveals the Critical Knowledge Gaps in Bile Acid-Mediated DILI.

Bile salt export pump (BSEP) inhibition has been proposed to be an important mechanism for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Modeling can prioritize knowledge gaps concerning bile acid (BA) homeostasis and thus help guide experimentation. A submodel of BA homeostasis in rats and humans was constructed within DILIsym, a mechanistic model of DILI. In vivo experiments in rats with glibenclamide were conducted, and data from these experiments were used to validate the model. The behavior of DILIsym was analyzed in the presence of a simulated theoretical BSEP inhibitor. BSEP inhibition in humans is predicted to increase liver concentrations of conjugated chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and sulfate-conjugated lithocholic acid (LCA) while the concentration of other liver BAs remains constant or decreases. On the basis of a sensitivity analysis, the most important unknowns are the level of BSEP expression, the amount of intestinal synthesis of LCA, and the magnitude of farnesoid-X nuclear receptor (FXR)-mediated regulation.

Systems pharmacology modeling predicts delayed presentation and species differences in bile acid-mediated troglitazone hepatotoxicity.

Troglitazone (TGZ) causes delayed, life-threatening drug-induced liver injury in some patients but was not hepatotoxic in rats. This study investigated altered bile acid homeostasis as a mechanism of TGZ hepatotoxicity using a systems pharmacology model incorporating drug/metabolite disposition, bile acid physiology/pathophysiology, hepatocyte life cycle, and liver injury biomarkers. In the simulated human population, TGZ (200-600 mg/day × 6 months) resulted in delayed increases in serum alanine transaminase >3× the upper limit of normal in 0.3-5.1%, with concomitant bilirubin elevations >2× the upper limit of normal in 0.3-3.6%, of the population. By contrast, pioglitazone (15-45 mg/day × 6 months) did not elicit hepatotoxicity, consistent with clinical data. TGZ was not hepatotoxic in the simulated rat population. In summary, mechanistic modeling based only on bile acid effects accurately predicted the incidence, delayed presentation, and species differences in TGZ hepatotoxicity, in addition to predicting the relative liver safety of pioglitazone. Systems pharmacology models integrating physiology and experimental data can evaluate drug-induced liver injury mechanisms and may be useful to predict the hepatotoxic potential of drug candidates.

Population pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and polymorphonuclear cells in healthy adults.

Azithromycin's extensive distribution to proinflammatory cells, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), may be important to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The need to simultaneously predict azithromycin concentrations in whole blood ("blood"), PBMCs, and PMNs motivated this investigation. A single-dose study in 20 healthy adults was conducted, and nonlinear mixed effects modeling was used to simultaneously describe azithromycin concentrations in blood, PBMCs, and PMNs (simultaneous PK model). Data were well described by a four-compartment mamillary model. Apparent central clearance and volume of distribution estimates were 67.3 l/hour and 336 l (interindividual variability of 114 and 122%, respectively). Bootstrapping and visual predictive checks showed adequate model performance. Azithromycin concentrations in blood, PBMCs, and PMNs from external studies of healthy adults and cystic fibrosis patients were within the 5th and 95th percentiles of model simulations. This novel empirical model can be used to predict azithromycin concentrations in blood, PBMCs, and PMNs with different dosing regimens.

Effect of Ritonavir on (99m)Technetium-Mebrofenin Disposition in Humans: A Semi-PBPK Modeling and In Vitro Approach to Predict Transporter-Mediated DDIs.

A semiphysiologically based pharmacokinetic (semi-PBPK) model was developed to describe a unique blood, liver, and bile clinical data set for the hepatobiliary imaging agent (99m)Technetium-mebrofenin ((99m)Tc-mebrofenin), and to simulate sites/mechanisms of a (99m)Tc-mebrofenin-ritonavir drug-drug interaction (DDI). The transport inhibitor ritonavir (multiple-dose: 2 × 300 mg) significantly increased systemic (99m)Tc-mebrofenin exposure as compared with control (4,464 ± 1,861 vs. 1,970 ± 311 nCi min/ml; mean ± SD), without affecting overall hepatic exposure or biliary recovery. A novel extrahepatic distribution compartment was required to characterize (99m)Tc-mebrofenin disposition. Ritonavir inhibited (99m)Tc-mebrofenin accumulation in human sandwich-cultured hepatocytes (SCH) (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 3.46 ± 1.53 µmol/l). Despite ritonavir accumulation in hepatocytes, intracellular binding was extensive (97. 6%), which limited interactions with multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2)-mediated biliary excretion. These in vitro data supported conclusions from modeling/simulation that ritonavir inhibited (99m)Tc-mebrofenin hepatic uptake, but not biliary excretion, at clinically relevant concentrations. This integrated approach, utilizing modeling, clinical, and in vitro data, emphasizes the importance of hepatic and extrahepatic distribution, assessment of inhibitory potential in relevant in vitro systems, and intracellular unbound concentrations to assess transporter-mediated hepatic DDIs.CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology (2013) 2, e20; doi:10.1038/psp.2012.21; advance online publication 2 January 2013.

Development of a population pharmacokinetic model to describe azithromycin whole-blood and plasma concentrations over time in healthy subjects.

Azithromycin (AZI), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, accumulates in polymorphonuclear cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The distribution of AZI in proinflammatory cells may be important to the anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have described plasma AZI pharmacokinetics. The objective of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetics of AZI in whole blood (concentration in whole blood [Cb]) and plasma (concentration in plasma [Cp]) of healthy subjects. In this study, 12 subjects received AZI (500 mg once a day for 3 days). AZI Cb and Cp were quantified in serial samples collected up to 3 weeks after the last dose and analyzed using noncompartmental and compartmental methods. After the last dose, Cb was greater than Cp. Importantly, Cb, but not Cp, was quantifiable in all but one subject at 3 weeks. The blood area under the curve during a 24-h dosing interval (AUC24) was ∼2-fold greater than the plasma AUC24, but simulations suggested that Cb was not at steady state by day 3. Upon exploration of numerous models, an empirical 3-compartment model adequately described Cp and Cb, but Cp was somewhat underestimated. Intercompartmental clearance (CL; likely representing cells) was lower than apparent oral CL (18 versus 118 liters/h). Plasma, peripheral, and cell compartmental volumes were 439 liters, 2,980 liters, and 3,084 liters, respectively. Interindividual variability in CL was low (26.2%), while the volume of distribution variability was high (107%). This is the first report to describe AZI Cb in healthy subjects, the distribution parameters between Cp and Cb, and AZI retention in blood for up to 3 weeks following 3 daily doses. The model can be used to predict Cb from Cp for AZI under various dosing regimens. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01026064.).

In vitro methods to support transporter evaluation in drug discovery and development.

This white paper addresses current approaches and knowledge gaps concerning methods to assess the role of transport proteins in drug/metabolite disposition in humans. The discussion focuses on in vitro tools to address key questions in drug development, including vesicle- and cell-based systems. How these methods can be used to assess the liability of compounds for transporter-based drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in vivo is also explored. Existing challenges and approaches to examine the involvement of transporters in drug disposition are discussed.

Intracellular drug concentrations and transporters: measurement, modeling, and implications for the liver.

Intracellular concentrations of drugs and metabolites are often important determinants of efficacy, toxicity, and drug interactions. Hepatic drug distribution can be affected by many factors, including physicochemical properties, uptake/efflux transporters, protein binding, organelle sequestration, and metabolism. This white paper highlights determinants of hepatocyte drug/metabolite concentrations and provides an update on model systems, methods, and modeling/simulation approaches used to quantitatively assess hepatocellular concentrations of molecules. The critical scientific gaps and future research directions in this field are discussed.

A perspective on efflux transport proteins in the liver.

Detailed knowledge regarding the influence of hepatic transport proteins on drug disposition has advanced at a rapid pace over the past decade. Efflux transport proteins located in the basolateral and apical (canalicular) membranes of hepatocytes play an important role in the hepatic elimination of many endogenous and exogenous compounds, including drugs and metabolites. This review focuses on the role of these efflux transporters in hepatic drug excretion. The impact of these proteins as underlying factors for disease is highlighted, and the importance of hepatic efflux proteins in the efficacy and toxicity of drugs is discussed. In addition, a brief overview of methodology to evaluate the function of hepatic efflux transport proteins is provided. Current challenges in predicting the impact of altered efflux protein function on systemic, intestinal, and hepatocyte exposure to drugs and metabolites are highlighted.

In vitro-in vivo correlation of hepatobiliary drug clearance in humans.

The biliary clearance (Cl(biliary)) of three compounds was estimated using sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes (SCHH) and compared with Cl(biliary) values measured in vivo. Tc-99m sestamibi (MIBI) Cl(biliary) was determined in seven healthy volunteers using an oroenteric catheter to aspirate duodenal secretions, and gamma scintigraphy to determine gallbladder contraction; this technique was used previously to determine Tc-99m mebrofenin (MEB) and piperacillin (PIP) in vivo Cl(biliary). In vitro Cl(biliary) of MEB, MIBI, and PIP was quantified in SCHH as the ratio of mass excreted into bile canaliculi and area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) in medium. MIBI Cl(biliary) in vivo was 5.5+/-1.2 mL/min/kg (mean+/-SD). The rank order of Cl(biliary) predicted from SCHH corresponded well with the in vivo Cl(biliary) values in mL/min/kg for MEB (7.44 vs 16.1), MIBI (1.20 vs 5.51), and PIP (0.028 vs 0.032). In conclusion, the methods developed allowed for reproducible quantification of Cl(biliary) of drugs in healthy humans and prediction of Cl(biliary) from in vitro data.

Comparison of the acute pharmacodynamic responses after single doses of ephedrine or sibutramine in healthy, overweight volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: With an increase in the incidence of obesity, tremendous effort has been devoted to the development of weight loss agents and the prospective surrogate markers of both a product's efficacy and safety. The objective of the present study was to compare the pharmacodynamic responses of ephedrine and sibutramine using surrogate markers of weight loss potential and potential adverse events. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: The study was designed as a 5-way, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with 3 single doses of ephedrine sulfate (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg x kg(-1)) followed by an open-labeled sibutramine (10 mg) treatment. Healthy, mildly overweight (BMI = 25) subjects were administered the respective treatment and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measurements (body surface temperature, resting metabolic rate, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose, glycerol, nonesterified fatty acids, triglycerides) were obtained for 8 hours post dose and for an additional 4 measurements during the sibutramine treatment period. RESULTS: Sibutramine treatment significantly increased resting metabolic rate compared to the placebo condition. Ephedrine significantly increased heart rate, systolic blood pressure and glucose but did not significantly affect other measurements. CONCLUSION: Both sibutramine and ephedrine have been shown to have weight loss potential, however, they elicit different metabolic and biochemical responses after a single dose. The nontherapeutic responses from these types of compounds may serve as a screening tool for the development of agents in the treatment of obesity.