Blonanserin, a novel atypical antipsychotic agent not actively transported as substrate by P-glycoprotein.

Although blonanserin, a novel atypical antipsychotic agent with dopamine D(2)/serotonin 5-HT(2A) antagonistic properties, displays good brain distribution, the mechanism of this distribution has not been clarified. P-glycoprotein [(P-gp) or multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1)] is an efflux transporter expressed in the brain and plays an important role in limiting drug entry into the central nervous system (CNS). In particular, P-gp can affect the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of antipsychotics, and exacerbate or soothe their adverse effects. In this study, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to determine whether blonanserin is a P-gp substrate. Risperidone and its active metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone, both of which are P-gp substrates, were used as reference drugs. Affinity of blonanserin, risperidone, and 9-hydroxyrisperidone for P-gp was evaluated by in vitro transcellular transport across LLC-PK1, human MDR1 cDNA-transfected LLC-PK1 (LLC-MDR1), and mouse Mdr1a cDNA-transfected LLC-PK1 (LLC-Mdr1a). In addition, pharmacokinetic parameters in the brain and plasma (B/P ratio) of test compounds were measured in mdr1a/1b knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. The results of in vitro experiments revealed that P-gp does not actively transport blonanserin as a substrate in humans or mice. In addition, blonanserin displayed comparable B/P ratios in KO and WT mice, whereas B/P ratios of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone differed markedly in these animals. Our results indicate that blonanserin is not a P-gp substrate and therefore its brain distribution is unlikely to be affected by this transporter.

Metabolomic investigation of cholestasis in a rat model using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Metabolomics follows the changes in concentrations of endogenous metabolites, which may reflect various disease states as well as systemic responses to environmental, therapeutic, or genetic interventions. In this study, we applied metabolomic approaches to monitor dynamic changes in plasma and urine metabolites, and compared these metabolite profiles in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR, an animal model of cholestasis) with those in the parent strain of EHBR - Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats - in order to characterize cholestasis pathophysiologically. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry-based analytical methods were used to assay metabolite levels. More than 250 metabolites were detected in both plasma and urine, and metabolite profiles of EHBR differed from those of SD rats. The levels of antioxidative and cytoprotective metabolites, taurine and hypotaurine, were markedly increased in urine of EHBR. The levels of many bile acids were also elevated in plasma and urine of EHBR, but the extent of elevation depended on the particular bile acid. The levels of cytoprotective ursodeoxycholic acid and its conjugates were markedly elevated, while that of cytotoxic chenodeoxycholic acid remained unchanged, suggesting the balance of bile acids had shifted resulting in decreased toxicity. In EHBR, reduced biliary excretion leads to increased systemic exposure to harmful compounds including some endogenous metabolites. Our metabolomic data suggest that mechanisms exist in EHBR that compensate for cholestasis-related damage.

In vitro investigation of the glutathione transferase M1 and T1 null genotypes as risk factors for troglitazone-induced liver injury.

The double null mutation of glutathione transferase, GSTM1 and GSTT1, is reported to influence troglitazone-associated abnormal increases of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. However, no nonclinical data with a bearing on the clinical outcomes and underlying mechanisms have hitherto been reported. To investigate whether deficiency in GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 is related to troglitazone hepatotoxicity in vitro, the covalent binding level (CBL) (an index of reactive metabolite formation) and cytotoxicity of troglitazone and rosiglitazone, another thiazolidinedione but with low hepatotoxicity, were examined using human liver samples phenotyped for cytochrome P450s and genotyped for GSTM1 and GSTT1. Despite addition of GSH, CBLs of troglitazone and rosiglitazone in human liver microsomes were correlated with CYP3A (or CYP2C8) and CYP2C8 activities, respectively. With addition of recombinant GSTM1, the microsomal CBLs of troglitazone and rosiglitazone decreased. However, the CBLs of troglitazone in GSTM1/GSTT1 wild-type hepatocytes were unexpectedly higher than those in null hepatocytes. Although this discrepancy has not been fully explained, the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null mutations increased the cytotoxicity of troglitazone, independent of CYP3A or CYP2C8 activities. Furthermore, a GSH adduct of troglitazone, M2, limited to GSTM1 wild-type hepatocytes was detected. Of clear interest, GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 null mutation-dependent cytotoxicity and higher exposure to the reactive metabolite trapped as M2 as for troglitazone were not observed for rosiglitazone. This result might at least partly explain the findings related to clinical hepatotoxicity, suggesting that measurement of GSH adducts or cytotoxicity using GSTM1- and GSTT1-genotyped hepatocytes might offer an important in vitro system to assist in better prediction of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity.

Wnt11 facilitates embryonic stem cell differentiation to Nkx2.5-positive cardiomyocytes.

Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in the control of morphogenesis in several tissues. Herein, we describe the role of Wnt11 during cardiac differentiation of embryonic stem cells. First, we examined the expression profile of Wnt11 during the course of differentiation in embryoid bodies, and then compared its expression in retinoic acid-treated embryoid bodies with that in untreated. In differentiating embryoid bodies, Wnt11 expression rose along with that of Nkx2.5 expression and continued to increase. When the embryoid bodies were treated with retinoic acid, Wnt11 expression decreased in parallel with the decreased expression of cardiac genes. Further, treatment of embryoid bodies with medium containing Wnt11 increased the expression of cardiac marker genes. Based on these results, we propose that Wnt11 plays an important role for cardiac development by embryoid bodies, and may be a key regulator of cardiac muscle cell proliferation and differentiation during heart development.

[Inhibitory effects of bisphosphonate on vascular calcification].

Recently, it has been hypothesized that vascular calcification is an actively regulated process in which vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) acquire osteoblast-like functions. Bisphosphonates prevent in vitro calcification of VSMCs and probably inhibit phosphate transport by sodium dependent phosphate transporter which plays a key role in VSMCs calcification. The effects of bisphosphonate on VSMCs have important implications for the future management of patients with vascular calcification.

[Arterial calcification:animal models].

The clinical significance of arterial calcification will continue to grow as the population ages. There is no appropriate animal model required to develop drugs to prevent vascular calcification. Several murine knockout models of some genes have led to new insights into the pathogenesis of arterial calcification. Good animal models can contribute to research progress in this area.