A comprehensive understanding of thioTEPA metabolism in the mouse using UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS-based metabolomics.

ThioTEPA, an alkylating agent with anti-tumor activity, has been used as an effective anticancer drug since the 1950s. However, a complete understanding of how its alkylating activity relates to clinical efficacy has not been achieved, the total urinary excretion of thioTEPA and its metabolites is not resolved, and the mechanism of formation of the potentially toxic metabolites S-carboxymethylcysteine (SCMC) and thiodiglycolic acid (TDGA) remains unclear. In this study, the metabolism of thioTEPA in a mouse model was comprehensively investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS) based-metabolomics. The nine metabolites identified in mouse urine suggest that thioTEPA underwent ring-opening, N-dechloroethylation, and conjugation reactions in vivo. SCMC and TDGA, two downstream thioTEPA metabolites, were produced from thioTEPA from two novel metabolites 1,2,3-trichloroTEPA (VII) and dechloroethyltrichloroTEPA (VIII). SCMC and TDGA excretion were increased about 4-fold and 2-fold, respectively, in urine following the thioTEPA treatment. The main mouse metabolites of thioTEPA in vivo were TEPA (II), monochloroTEPA (III) and thioTEPA-mercapturate (IV). In addition, five thioTEPA metabolites were detected in serum and all shared similar disposition. Although thioTEPA has a unique chemical structure which is not maintained in the majority of its metabolites, metabolomic analysis of its biotransformation greatly contributed to the investigation of thioTEPA metabolism in vivo, and provides useful information to understand comprehensively the pharmacological activity and potential toxicity of thioTEPA in the clinic.

Comparative metabolism of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in the mouse using UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS-based metabolomics.

Ifosfamide (IF) and cyclophosphamide (CP) are common chemotherapeutic agents. Interestingly, while the two drugs are isomers, only IF treatment is known to cause nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Therefore, it was anticipated that a comparison of IF and CP drug metabolites in the mouse would reveal reasons for this selective toxicity. Drug metabolites were profiled by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-linked electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS), and the results analyzed by multivariate data analysis. Of the total 23 drug metabolites identified by UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS for both IF and CP, five were found to be novel. Ifosfamide preferentially underwent N-dechloroethylation, the pathway yielding 2-chloroacetaldehyde, while cyclophosphamide preferentially underwent ring-opening, the pathway yielding acrolein (AC). Additionally, S-carboxymethylcysteine and thiodiglycolic acid, two downstream IF and CP metabolites, were produced similarly in both IF- and CP-treated mice. This may suggest that other metabolites, perhaps precursors of thiodiglycolic acid, may be responsible for IF encephalopathy and nephropathy.

In vitro characterization of sarizotan metabolism: hepatic clearance, identification and characterization of metabolites, drug-metabolizing enzyme identification, and evaluation of cytochrome p450 inhibition.

In vitro biotransformation studies of sarizotan using human liver microsomes (HLM) showed aromatic and aliphatic monohydroxylation and dealkylation. Recombinant cytochromes P450 (P450) together with P450-selective inhibitors in HLM/hepatocyte cultures were used to evaluate the relative contribution of different P450s and revealed major involvement of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C8, and CYP1A2 in sarizotan metabolism. The apparent K(m, u) and V(max) of sarizotan clearance, as investigated in HLM, were 9 microM and 3280 pmol/mg/min, predicting in vivo hepatic clearance of 0.94 l/h, which indicates that sarizotan is a low-clearance compound in humans and suggests nonsaturable metabolism at the targeted plasma concentration (< or =1 microM). This finding is confirmed by the reported human clearance (CL/F of 3.6-4.4 l/h) and by the dose-linear area under the curve increase observed with doses up to 25 mg. The inhibitory effect of sarizotan toward six major P450s was evaluated using P450-specific marker reactions in pooled HLM. K(i, u) values of sarizotan against CYP2C8, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 were >10 microM, whereas those against CYP2D6 and CYP1A2 were 0.43 and 8.7 microM, respectively. Based on the estimates of sarizotan concentrations at the enzyme active sites, no clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) due to P450 inhibition are expected. This result has been confirmed in human DDI studies in which no inhibition of five major P450s was observed in terms of marker metabolite formation.

Human urinary metabolomic profile of PPARalpha induced fatty acid beta-oxidation.

Activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is associated with increased fatty acid catabolism and is commonly targeted for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. To identify latent, endogenous biomarkers of PPARalpha activation and hence increased fatty acid beta-oxidation, healthy human volunteers were given fenofibrate orally for 2 weeks and their urine was profiled by UPLC-QTOFMS. Biomarkers identified by the machine learning algorithm random forests included significant depletion by day 14 of both pantothenic acid (>5-fold) and acetylcarnitine (>20-fold), observations that are consistent with known targets of PPARalpha including pantothenate kinase and genes encoding proteins involved in the transport and synthesis of acylcarnitines. It was also concluded that serum cholesterol (-12.7%), triglycerides (-25.6%), uric acid (-34.7%), together with urinary propylcarnitine (>10-fold), isobutyrylcarnitine (>2.5-fold), (S)-(+)-2-methylbutyrylcarnitine (5-fold), and isovalerylcarnitine (>5-fold) were all reduced by day 14. Specificity of these biomarkers as indicators of PPARalpha activation was demonstrated using the Ppara-null mouse. Urinary pantothenic acid and acylcarnitines may prove useful indicators of PPARalpha-induced fatty acid beta-oxidation in humans. This study illustrates the utility of a pharmacometabolomic approach to understand drug effects on lipid metabolism in both human populations and in inbred mouse models.

The effects of the Penicillium mycotoxins citrinin, cyclopiazonic acid, ochratoxin A, patulin, penicillic acid, and roquefortine C on in vitro proliferation of porcine lymphocytes.

The in vitro effect of each of the Penicillium mycotoxins citrinin (CIT), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), ochratoxin A (OTA), patulin (PAT), penicillic acid (PIA) and roquefortine C (RQC) on mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation was determined using purified lymphocytes from 6 piglets. Dose response curves for each mycotoxin were generated and the concentrations producing 50% inhibition of cell proliferation (IC(50)) were estimated. OTA and PAT were the most potent toxins with IC(50) of 1.3 and 1.2 micromol/l, respectively (0.52 and 0.18 mg/l, respectively). Based on molar concentrations, OTA was 15, 30, 40, and 65 times more potent as an inhibitor than PIA, CIT, CPA and RQC, respectively.