A novel anti-TNF-α drug ozoralizumab rapidly distributes to inflamed joint tissues in a mouse model of collagen induced arthritis.

In clinical studies, the next-generation anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) single domain antibody ozoralizumab showed high clinical efficacy shortly after the subcutaneous injection. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the rapid onset of the effects of ozoralizumab, we compared the biodistribution kinetics of ozoralizumab and adalimumab after subcutaneous injection in an animal model of arthritis. Alexa Fluor 680-labeled ozoralizumab and adalimumab were administered by subcutaneous injection once (2 mg/kg) at five weeks after induction of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in an animal arthritis model. The time-course of changes in the fluorescence intensities of the two compounds in the paws and serum were evaluated. The paws of the CIA mice were harvested at four and eight hours after the injection for fluorescence microscopy. Biofluorescence imaging revealed better distribution of ozoralizumab to the joint tissues than of adalimumab, as early as at four hours after the injection. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a greater fluorescence intensity of ozoralizumab in the joint tissues than that of adalimumab at eight hours after the injection. Ozoralizumab showed a significantly higher absorption rate constant as compared with adalimumab. These results indicate that ozoralizumab enters the systemic circulation more rapidly and is distributed to the target tissues earlier and at higher levels than conventional IgG antibodies. Our investigation provides new insight into the mechanism underlying the rapid onset of the effects of ozoralizumab in clinical practice.

Ozoralizumab, a Humanized Anti-TNFα NANOBODY® Compound, Exhibits Efficacy Not Only at the Onset of Arthritis in a Human TNF Transgenic Mouse but Also During Secondary Failure of Administration of an Anti-TNFα IgG.

Although the introduction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors represented a significant advance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), traditional anti-TNFα antibodies are somewhat immunogenic, and their use results in the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) and loss of efficacy (secondary failure). Ozoralizumab is a trivalent, bispecific NANOBODY® compound that differs structurally from IgGs. In this study we investigated the suppressant effect of ozoralizumab and adalimumab, an anti-TNFα IgG, on arthritis and induction of ADAs in human TNF transgenic mice. Ozoralizumab markedly suppressed arthritis progression and did not induce ADAs during long-term administration. We also developed an animal model of secondary failure by repeatedly administering adalimumab and found that switching from adalimumab to ozoralizumab was followed by superior anti-arthritis efficacy in the secondary-failure animal model. Moreover, ozoralizumab did not form large immune complexes that might lead to ADA formation. The results of our studies suggest that ozoralizumab, which exhibited low immunogenicity in the animal model used and has a different antibody structure from that of IgGs, is a promising candidate for the treatment of RA patients not only at the onset of RA but also during secondary failure of anti-TNFα treatment.

Preclinical disposition of MGS0274 besylate, a prodrug of a potent group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist MGS0008 for the treatment of schizophrenia.

MGS0274 besylate is an ester-based lipophilic prodrug of a metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) 2 and mGlu3 receptor agonist MGS0008 and being developed for the treatment of schizophrenia. We investigated the disposition of these compounds in rats and monkeys and in vitro metabolism in humans to evaluate whether MGS0274 besylate could be useful as a prodrug in humans. After the oral administration of MGS0274 besylate to monkeys (2.89 mg/kg), MGS0008 was immediately found in plasma, reached a maximum concentration at 4 hours postdose, and decreased with a terminal half-life of 16.7 hours; MGS0274 was barely detectable. The oral bioavailability as MGS0008 was 83.7%, which was approximately 20-fold greater than that after oral dosing of MGS0008 (3.8%). In rats, MGS0008 penetrated the cerebrospinal fluid and was eliminated slower than from plasma. The in vitro metabolism study indicated that MGS0274 was rapidly hydrolyzed to MGS0008, which was not further metabolized. After the intravenous administration of MGS0008 to rats and monkeys, almost all the dose was excreted unchanged in urine. These results suggested that MGS0274 was, as expected, presystemically hydrolyzed to MGS0008 after gastrointestinal absorption and that MGS0008 was distributed throughout the body without further metabolism and ultimately excreted in urine in the animals. Furthermore, the hydrolytic activity against MGS0274 in the human liver S9 fraction was comparable to that in monkeys, suggesting the possibility of the rapid presystemic hydrolysis of MGS0274 to MGS0008 in humans, as it is in monkeys. Consequently, MGS0274 besylate is expected to function as a preferable prodrug in humans.

Recommendation to Exclude Bile-Duct-Cannulated Rats with Hyperbilirubinemia for Proper Conduct of Biliary Drug Excretion Studies.

Hyperbilirubinemia (HB) is sometimes encountered following bile-duct cannulation in rats. It possibly originates from the reduced functioning of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) and subsequent adaptive alterations in the expression of Mrp3 and the organic anion transporting polypeptides (Oatps). Our aim was to clarify the importance of excluding bile-duct-cannulated (BDC) rats with HB for proper conduct of drug excretion studies. We detected HB [serum total bilirubin concentration (TBIL) ≥0.20 mg/dl] in 16% of all BDC rats prepared. The serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, leucine aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase were within the respective normal ranges in the BDC rats with mild HB (TBIL, 0.20-0.79 mg/dl), indicating the absence of hepatic failure. In the pharmacokinetics of pravastatin, an Oatps/Mrp2 probe drug in the BDC rats, the apparent volume of distribution and the clearance were smaller in the mild HB group as compared with the normal group, suggesting the reduction of apparent hepatic uptake and hepatobiliary elimination. The biliary excretion (percentage of dose) was significantly reduced by 54%, suggesting that the biliary efflux activity via Mrp2 was reduced to a greater extent relative to metabolic activity in hepatocytes. The serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity correlated with TBIL and inversely correlated with biliary excretion of pravastatin, a finding which could serve as a clue to uncover the regulatory system involving cooperation between GGT and Mrp2. In conclusion, BDC rats with HB, however mild, should be excluded from drug excretion studies to avoid the risk of underestimation of the biliary excretion of drugs.

Involvement of organic cation transporters in the clearance and milk secretion of thiamine in mice.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of organic cation transporters (Octs) and multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (Mate1) in the disposition of thiamine. METHODS: The uptake of [(3)H]thiamine was determined in Oct1-, Oct2-, and Oct3-expressing HEK293 cells and freshly isolated hepatocytes. A pharmacokinetic study of thiamine-d3 following intravenous infusion (1 and 100 nmol/min/kg) was conducted in male Oct1/2(+/+) and Oct1/2(-/-) mice. A MATE inhibitor, pyrimethamine, (5 mg/kg) was administered intravenously. The plasma and breast milk concentrations of thiamine were determined in female mice. RESULTS: Thiamine is a substrate of Oct1 and Oct2, but not Oct3. Oct1/2 defect caused a significant reduction in the uptake of [(3)H]thiamine by hepatocytes in vitro, and elevated the plasma thiamine concentration by 5.8-fold in vivo. The plasma clearance of thiamine-d3 was significantly decreased in Oct1/2(-/-) mice. At the higher infusion rate of 100 nmol/min/kg thiamine-d3, Oct1/2 defect or pyrimethamine-treatment caused a significant reduction in the renal clearance of thiamine-d3. The total thiamine and thiamine-d3 concentrations were moderately reduced in the intestine of Oct1/2(-/-) mice but were unchanged in the kidney, liver, or brain. The milk-to-plasma concentration ratio of thiamine was decreased by 28-fold in the Oct1/2(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Oct1 is possibly responsible for the plasma clearance of thiamine via tissue uptake and for milk secretion. Oct1/2 and Mate1 are involved in the renal tubular secretion of thiamine.

Distribution and metabolism of four different dimethylated arsenicals in hamsters.

Arsenic toxicity and distribution are highly dependent on animal species and its chemical species. Recently, thioarsenical has been recognized in highly toxic arsenic metabolites, which was commonly found in human and animal urine. In the present study, we revealed the mechanism underlying the distribution and metabolism of non-thiolated and thiolated dimethylarsenic compounds such as dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)), dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)), dimethylmonothioarsinic acid (DMMTA(V)), and dimethyldithioarsinic acid (DMDTA(V)) after the administration of them into femoral vein of hamsters. DMA(V) and DMDTA(V) distributed in organs and body fluids were in their unmodified form, while DMA(III) and DMMTA(V) were bound to proteins and transformed to DMA(V) in organs. On the other hand, DMA(V) and DMDTA(V) were mostly excreted into urine as their intact form 1 h after post-injection, and more than 70% of the doses were recovered in urine as their intact form. By contrast, less than 8-14% of doses were recovered in urine as DMA(V), while more than 60% of doses were distributed in muscles and target organs (liver, kidney, and lung) of hamsters after the injection of DMMTA(V) and DMA(III). However, in red blood cells (RBCs), only a small amount of the arsenicals was distributed (less than 4% of the doses) after the injection of DMA(III) and DMMTA(V), suggesting that the DMA(III) and DMMTA(V) were hardly accumulated in hamster RBCs. Based on these observations, we suggest that although DMMTA(V) and DMDTA(V) are thioarsenicals, DMMTA(V) is taken up efficiently by organs, in a manner different from that of DMDTA(V). In addition, the distribution and metabolism of DMMTA(V) are like in manner similar to DMA(III) in hamsters, while DMDTA(V) is in a manner similar to DMA(V).

Evidence for toxicity differences between inorganic arsenite and thioarsenicals in human bladder cancer cells.

Arsenic toxicity is dependent on its chemical species. In humans, the bladder is one of the primary target organs for arsenic-induced carcinogenicity. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced carcinogenicity, and what arsenic species are responsible for this carcinogenicity. The present study aimed at comparing the toxic effect of DMMTA(V) with that of inorganic arsenite (iAs(III)) on cell viability, uptake efficiency and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) toward human bladder cancer EJ-1 cells. The results were compared with those of a previous study using human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Although iAs(III) was known to be toxic to most cells, here we show that iAs(III) (LC(50)=112 microM) was much less cytotoxic than DMMTA(V) (LC(50)=16.7 microM) in human bladder EJ-1 cells. Interestingly, pentavalent sulfur-containing DMMTA(V) generated a high level of intracellular ROS in EJ-1 cells. However, this was not observed in the cells exposed to trivalent inorganic iAs(III) at their respective LC(50) dose. Furthermore, the presence of N-acetyl-cysteine completely inhibited the cytotoxicity of DMMTA(V) but not iAs(III), suggesting that production of ROS was the main cause of cell death from exposure to DMMTA(V), but not iAs(III). Because the cellular uptake of iAs(III) is mediated by aquaporin proteins, and because the resistance of cells to arsenite can be influenced by lower arsenic uptake due to lower expression of aquaporin proteins (AQP 3, 7 and 9), the expression of several members of the aquaporin family was also examined. In human bladder EJ-1 cells, mRNA/proteins of AQP3, 7 and 9 were not detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/western blotting. In A431 cells, only mRNA and protein of AQP3 were detected. The large difference in toxicity between the two cell lines could be related to their differences in uptake of arsenic species.

Arsenic metabolism and thioarsenicals in hamsters and rats.

The tissue distribution and chemical forms of arsenic were compared in two animal species with different metabolic capacity and toxicity to arsenic. Hamsters and rats were given a single oral dose of arsenite (iAsIII) at 5.0 mg As/kg body weight, and then the concentrations of arsenic were determined; more than 75% of the dose accumulated in rat red blood cells (RBCs) in the form of dimethylarsinous acid (DMAIII), whereas less than 0.8% of the dose accumulated in hamster RBCs, mostly in the form of monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII). Reflecting the low accumulation in RBCs, more than 63% of the dose was recovered in hamster urine within one week (7.8-fold higher than that in rat urine). The quantity of arsenic distributed in the liver and kidneys was significantly higher in hamsters than in rats, and arsenic in livers stayed much longer in hamsters than in rats. Arsenic accumulated more and was retained longer in the kidneys than in the livers in both animals, and in hamster kidneys, it accumulated at levels higher than those in rat kidneys in the form of MMAIII bound to proteins. In the first 24 h urine, dimethylmonothioarsinic (DMMTAV) and dimethyldithioarsinic (DMDTAV) acids were detected in hamsters, but only DMMTAV was found in rats, together with an unknown arsenic metabolite in both animals. The unknown urinary arsenic metabolite was identified as monomethylmonothioarsonic acid (MMMTAV; CH3As(=S)(OH)2). The present results indicate that in hamsters, arsenic does not accumulate in RBCs, and therefore, hamsters exhibit a more uniform tissue distribution and faster urinary excretion of arsenic than rats. In addition, arsenic was thiolated more in hamsters than in rats excreting mono and dimethylated thioarsenicals in urine.

Metabolic differences between two dimethylthioarsenicals in rats.

Thioarsenicals are newly found arsenic metabolites in man and animals, and also in marine organisms. Dimethylmonothioarsinic acid (DMMTA(V)) and dimethyldithioarsinic acid (DMDTA(V)) are the only two thioarsenic metabolites detected in man and/or animals. However, their toxicological and biological significance is not known yet. The present study was performed to gain an insight into the significance of DMMTA(V) and DMDTA(V) in the metabolism of arsenic. The two thioarsenicals were synthesized chemically and injected intravenously into rats at the dose of 0.5 mg As/kg body weight. The distributions of arsenic in organs/tissues and body fluids were determined at 10 min and 12 h after the injection, and arsenic in liver and kidney supernatants, urine, plasma and red blood cell (RBC) lysates was subjected to speciation analysis by HPLC-ICP MS on a gel filtration GS 220 HQ column. Although both thioarsenicals are pentavalent arsenicals, they were distributed in organs/tissues and body fluids differently from the corresponding non-thiolated pentavalent arsenicals, and also from each other. Namely, DMMTA(V) was first found in organs/tissues at 10 min, and then redistributed and retained mostly in RBCs at 12 h, as in the case of trivalent dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)). On the other hand, although DMDTA(V) was also found in organs/tissues at 10 min, it had been efficiently excreted in urine in its intact form at 12 h. Thus, DMMTA(V) was unexpectedly distributed in and taken up by organs/tissues in a manner similar to DMA(III) rather than DMA(V), whereas DMDTA(V) was distributed similarly to DMA(V) as expected, but was much more efficiently excreted in urine.

Diurnal nitrogen excretion rhythm of the functionally ureogenic gobiid fish Mugilogobius abei.

This study was performed to determine the daily periodicity of urea excretion in the ureogenic gobiid fish Mugilogobius abei. In 20% seawater, urea excretion of all the fish examined showed daily periodic changes under a 12-h light-dark cycle, and some showed a free-running rhythm under constant darkness. This is the first report of a circadian rhythm in urea excretion in fishes. Daily variations in urea excretion under light-dark cycles were also observed under various conditions, i.e. exposure to water ammonia, confinement/non-confinement and solitary/group. Due to the daily variations in urea excretion, urea contents in tissues changed periodically, whereas enzyme activities related to urea synthesis did not change significantly. The index of urea permeability as determined by changes in body urea contents after 2-h immersion of 25 mM urea solution was high during the peak of daily variation in urea excretion. Locomotor activity and urea excretion showed clear daily variations under light-dark cycles, both of which were diurnal. Furthermore, daily variations in urea excretion were maintained even when the diurnal pattern in the locomotor activity was disturbed. These results suggest that periodic urea excretion was mediated by periodic enhancement of permeability for urea at excretion sites.