Blood-brain barrier in vitro models as tools in drug discovery: assessment of the transport ranking of antihistaminic drugs.

In the course of our validation program testing blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro models for their usability as tools in drug discovery it was evaluated whether an established Transwell model based on porcine cell line PBMEC/C1-2 was able to differentiate between the transport properties of first and second generation antihistaminic drugs. First generation antihistamines can permeate the BBB and act in the central nervous system (CNS), whereas entry to the CNS of second generation antihistamines is restricted by efflux pumps such as P-glycoprotein (P-gP) located in brain endothelial cells. P-gP functionality of PBMEC/C1-2 cells grown on Transwell filter inserts was proven by transport studies with P-gP substrate rhodamine 123 and P-gP blocker verapamil. Subsequent drug transport studies with the first generation antihistamines promethazine, diphenhydramine and pheniramine and the second generation antihistamines astemizole, ceterizine, fexofenadine and loratadine were accomplished in single substance as well as in group studies. Results were normalised to diazepam, an internal standard for the transcellular transport route. Moreover, effects after addition of P-gP inhibitor verapamil were investigated. First generation antihistamine pheniramine permeated as fastest followed by diphenhydramine, diazepam, promethazine and second generation antihistaminic drugs ceterizine, fexofenadine, astemizole and loratadine reflecting the BBB in vivo permeability ranking well. Verapamil increased the transport rates of all second generation antihistamines, which suggested involvement of P-gP during their permeation across the BBB model. The ranking after addition of verapamil was significantly changed, only fexofenadine and ceterizine penetrated slower than internal standard diazepam in the presence of verapamil. In summary, permeability data showed that the BBB model based on porcine cell line PBMEC/C1-2 was able to reflect the BBB in vivo situation for the transport of antihistaminc drugs and to distinguish between first and second generation antihistamines.

The involvement of selected membrane transport mechanisms in the cellular uptake of (177)Lu-labeled bombesin, somatostatin and gastrin analogues.

INTRODUCTION: Radiolabeled receptor-targeting peptides are a useful tool for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy of some malignancies. However, the retention of radioactivity in the kidney may result in renal radiotoxic injury. This study seeks to evaluate the role of endocytic receptor megalin, renal SLC influx transporters and fluid phase endocytosis (FPE) in the cellular accumulation of radiolabeled peptides. METHODS: In vitro transport cellular studies using megalin ligands (RAP, albumin), fluid phase endocytosis (FPE) inhibitor rottlerin and low temperature were employed to evaluate the transport mechanisms of the peptides. Cells transfected with hOAT1 or hOCT2 were used to analyze the role of these SLC transporters. Somatostatin ((177)Lu-DOTA-[Tyr(3)]octreotate, (177)Lu-DOTA-[1-Nal(3)]octreotide), gastrin ((177)Lu-DOTA-sargastrin) and bombesin ((177)Lu-DOTA-[Pro(1),Tyr(4)]bombesin, (177)Lu-DOTA-[Lys(3)]bombesin, (177)Lu-PCTA-[Lys(3)]bombesin) analogues were involved in the study. RESULTS: RAP, albumin and low temperature decreased the accumulation of all the studied peptides significantly. With one exception, rottlerin caused the concentration dependent inhibition of the cellular accumulation of the radiopeptides. No significant differences in the uptake of the peptides between the control cells and those transfected with hOAT1 or hOCT2 were observed. CONCLUSION: The study showed that active transport mechanisms are decisive for the cellular accumulation in all tested (177)Lu-labeled somatostatin, gastrin and bombesin analogues. Besides receptor-mediated endocytosis by megalin, FPE participates significantly in the uptake. The tested types of renal SLC transporters are not involved in this process.