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Biomedical subjects

D J Greenblatt

Publications and source records attributed to D J Greenblatt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Lorazepam concentrations, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in a cohort of mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate plasma concentrations, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lorazepam in a cohort of mechanically ventilated patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent simultaneous measurement of lorazepam concentration and sedation assessments using the Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) and Bispectral Index (BIS). Lorazepam administration was classified as either continuous intravenous infusion (CIVS) or bolus. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 124 observations were made in 13 patients. The median concentration was 59 ng/ml, interquartile range 23 - 93 ng/ml, range 0 - 1,072 ng/ml. Clearance was preserved at 92 +/- 71 ml/min. Higher concentrations were associated with deeper sedation determined by both SAS and BIS. Two patients were managed with CIVS and received more lorazepam than those managed without (288 +/- 53.5 versus 55 +/- 25.2 mg, p-value < 0.005). CIVS administration was associated with higher concentrations (629 +/- 36 versus 49 +/- 15 ng/ml, p-value < 0.001) and deeper sedation by both SAS and BIS. CONCLUSIONS: Lorazepam clearance was preserved with a wide range of concentrations. Higher concentrations were associated with deeper sedation and use of CIVS. Elevated concentrations during CIVS were attributable to administration of larger doses.

Cohort Studies↗

Ritonavir and dexamethasone induce expression of CYP3A and P-glycoprotein in rats.

1. The consequences of extended exposure to the human immunodeficiency viral protease inhibitor ritonavir (RIT) on the expression and function of CYP3A isoforms in the liver and in enteric mucosal cells, and on the expression of the efflux transport protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in enteric mucosa and in brain microvessel endothelial cells, were evaluated in rat. Dexamethasone (DEX), a known inducer of CYP3A and P-gp in rodents, served as a positive control. 2. Male CD-1 rats received RIT (20 mg kg(-1)), DEX (80 mg kg(-1)) or vehicle by oral/duodenal gavage once daily for 3 days. 3. Compared with vehicle control, CYP3A activity in liver microsomes (intrinsic clearance for triazolam hydroxylation in vitro) was increased by a factor of 2-4 by RIT, and by 10-14-fold by DEX. Similar increases were observed in expression of immunoactive CYP3A protein. Overall, maximum reaction velocity and immunoactive protein were highly intercorrelated (r2 = 0.89). Both RIT and DEX also increased function and expression of enteric CYP3A, although to a more modest extent (about 1.7-fold for RIT, about 3.3-fold for DEX). 4. Enteric P-gp expression was equally induced (by 2.8-fold) by both RIT and DEX. P-gp expressed in brain microvessel endothelial cells was increased by a factor of 1.3 by both compounds. 5. Thus, increased expression of CYP3A isoforms and of P-gp occurs with 3 days of exposure to RIT in rats. Qualitatively similar changes occur in human cell culture models and in clinical studies, and might contribute to drug interactions involving RIT (and other antiretroviral agents) in humans.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Role of CYP3A enzymes in the biotransformation of triazolam in rat liver.

1. Triazolam (TRZ) has been used extensively in rat to evaluate its benzodiazepine agonist central nervous system effects. However, the pharmacokinetics of TRZ in the male rat are not well understood. 2. To characterize further TRZ biotransformation across species, the NADPH-dependent biotransformation of TRZ was examined in rat and human liver microsomes. The role of specific cytochrome P450s (CYPs) in the biotransformation of TRZ in the rat were also determined using both rat cDNA-expressed CYPs and chemical and antibody inhibition techniques. 3. The formation of TRZ's primary hydroxylated products, alpha-OH- and 4-OH-TRZ, was consistent with a single-enzyme Michaelis-Menten model in humans. 4. Although 4-OH-TRZ formation in the male rat liver was also approximated by a single-enzyme model, a second low-affinity component was identified as contributing to alpha-OH-TRZ formation in the rat. 5. The K(m) values for the primary metabolic pathway differed between the two species. However, the net intrinsic clearances were similar for the rat and human. 6. As observed previously for humans, chemical and antibody inhibition studies suggested that CYP3A enzymes contribute significantly to TRZ hydroxylation in the rat. This finding was further supported by the use of rat cDNA-expressed CYPs. 7. The male rat might serve as a useful model for evaluating mechanisms regulating TRZ metabolism in vivo.

Adult↗

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) glucuronidation in vitro: assay development, human liver microsome activities and species differences.

1. The main purpose was to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based method to assay serotonin glucuronidation activity using liver microsomal fractions. Application of this method was then demonstrated by determining serotonin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme kinetics using human liver microsomes and recombinant human UGT1A6. Interspecies differences were also evaluated using liver microsomes from 10 different mammalian species. 2. Incubation of liver microsomes with serotonin, UDP-glucuronic acid and magnesium resulted in the formation of a single product peak using HPLC with fluorescence and ultraviolet absorbance detection. This peak was confirmed as serotonin glucuronide based on sensitivity to beta-glucuronidase and by obtaining the expected mass of 352 with positive-ion mass spectrometry. 3. Following a preparative HPLC isolation, the structure of this metabolite was established as serotonin-5-O-glucuronide by (1)H-NMR spectroscopy. 4. Enzyme kinetic studies showed apparent K(m) and V(max) of 8.8 +/- 0.3 mM and 43.4 +/- 0.4 nmoles min(-1) mg(-1) protein, respectively, for human liver microsomes, and 5.9 +/- 0.2 mM and 15.8 +/- 0.2 nmoles min(-1) mg(-1), respectively, for recombinant UGT1A6. 5. The order of serotonin-UGT activities in animal liver microsomes was rat > mouse > human > cow > pig > horse > dog > rabbit > monkey > ferret. Cat livers showed no serotonin-UGT activity. Heterozygous and homozygous mutant Gunn rat livers had 40 and 13%, respectively, of the activity of the normal Wistar rat, indicating a significant contribution by a rat UGT1A isoform to serotonin glucuronidation. 6. This assay provides a novel sensitive and specific technique for the measurement of serotonin-UGT activity in vitro.

Adult↗

Differential metabolism of midazolam in mouse liver and intestine microsomes: a comparison of cytochrome P450 activity and expression.

1. Although multiple cytochrome P450s (CYP) contribute to hepatic phase I metabolism, CYP3A is the principal subfamily present in human and mouse small intestine. 2. Differences in phase I metabolism were investigated using midazolam (MDZ) hydroxylation in mouse liver and intestinal microsomes. The net MDZ metabolite formation rate in intestinal microsomes was approximately 30% that of liver microsomes (at 250 micro M MDZ). 3. Quantitative Western blotting with anti-CYP3A1 antibody detected two bands of immunoreactive protein in both liver and intestinal samples, 2.24 +/- 0.27 (mean +/- SD, n = 3) and 0.64 +/- 0.08 pmol mg(-1) protein, respectively. Qualitative Western blotting with anti-CYP2C11 antibody detected a single band of immunoreactive protein in liver microsomes and no signal in intestinal samples (1 micro g sample). 4. Ketoconazole potently inhibited formation of both alpha- and 4-OH-MDZ metabolites in intestinal microsomes (IC(50)' of 0.126 +/- 0.010 and 0.0955 +/- 0.014 micro M, respectively) and of 4-OH-MDZ formation in mouse liver microsomes (IC(50) of 0.041 +/- 0.003 micro M). However, ketoconazole (5 micro M) did not produce 50% inhibition of alpha-OH-MDZ formation in mouse liver microsomes. Inhibition by ritonavir (5 micro M) produced similar results. 5. MDZ hydroxylation is predominately CYP3A dependent in mouse intestine (compared with mouse liver) since CYP2C is not expressed in the intestine. The importance of CYP3A in the mouse intestine appears to mirror that in humans.

Algorithms↗

Ritonavir induces P-glycoprotein expression, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) expression, and drug transporter-mediated activity in a human intestinal cell line.

The present study characterized the response of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) to chronic ritonavir (RIT) exposure by assessing increases in P-gp and MRP1 protein expression and activity. LS-180V intestinal carcinoma cells were exposed for 3 days to 1-100 microM RIT concurrently with controls. P-gp and MRP1 protein was quantified by Western blot analysis. Cell accumulation assays, using the P-gp substrate rhodamine 123 (RH123), the P-gp/MRP1 substrate doxorubicin (DOX), and the MRP substrate carboxyfluorescein (CBF), were performed as a measure of transporter activity. RIT strongly induced P-gp and MRP1 expression (maximum 6-fold and 3-fold increases, respectively) in a concentration-dependent fashion. Following extended exposure to RIT (> 10 microM), cells accumulated < 50% of the RH123 and DOX compared with controls, whereas accumulation of CBF was decreased by 30% at 30 microM. Differences in cell accumulation of RH123 could be eliminated with verapamil (100 microM; a P-gp inhibitor), whereas decreased DOX cell accumulation was only partially reversed by verapamil. Indomethacin (100 microM; an MRP1 inhibitor) had no significant effect on RH123 or DOX accumulation, suggesting limited MRP1-mediated activity. Thus, RIT induced protein expression of P-gp and MRP1 and increased cellular drug exclusion of RH123, DOX, and CBF. Similar in vivo phenomena may occur during anti-HIV drug therapy, explaining potential decrements in therapeutic efficacy due to decreases in bioavailability or alterations in drug distribution.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Relative contributions of CYP2C9 and 2C19 to phenytoin 4-hydroxylation in vitro: inhibition by sulfaphenazole, omeprazole, and ticlopidine.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative contribution of cytochromes P450 (CYP) 2C9 and 2C19 to the formation of 5-(-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantion (HPPH) from phenytoin (PPH). DESIGN: Hydroxylation of PPH to form HPPH was studied in vitro using human liver microsomes and microsomes from cDNA-transfected human lymphoblastoid cells. RESULTS: Formation of HPPH from PPH in liver microsomes had a mean (+/- SEM) apparent Km [substrate concentration corresponding to 50% of maximal reaction velocity (Vmax)] of 23.6 +/- 1.8 mumol/l. Coincubation with the CYP2C9 inhibitor, sulfaphenazole (SPA), at 5 mumol/l reduced reaction velocity to less than 15% of control values. The mean inhibitor concentration at which 50% inhibition is achieved (IC50 value) for SPA versus PPH hydroxylation (0.49 microM) was similar to the SPA IC50 versus flurbiprofen hydroxylation (0.46 microM) and tolbutamide hydroxylation (0.7-1.5 microM). In contrast, the CYP2C19 inhibitor omeprazole (OME) at 10 mumol/l produced only a small degree of inhibition. Incubation of PPH with microsomes from cDNA-transfected human lymphoblastoid cells containing CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4 yielded no detectable formation of HPPH. Only CYP2C9 and 2C19 had PPH hydroxylation activity, with apparent Km values for the high-affinity component of 14.6 mumol/l and 24.1 mumol/l, respectively. Based on Vmax values in liver microsomes, the Vmax and Km values in expressed CYPs and the relative abundance of the two isoforms in human liver, CYP2C9, and 2C19 were estimated to have relative contributions of 90% and 10%, respectively, to net intrinsic clearance. CONCLUSIONS: Formation of HPPH from PPH is mediated exclusively by CYP2C9 and 2C19, with CYP2C9 playing the major role.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Saint John's wort: an in vitro analysis of P-glycoprotein induction due to extended exposure.

1. Chronic use of Saint John's wort (SJW) has been shown to lower the bioavailability for a variety of co-administered drugs including indinavir, cyclosporin, and digoxin. Decreases in intestinal absorption through induction of the multidrug resistance transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), may explain decreased bioavailability. 2. The present study characterized the response of P-gp to chronic and acute exposure of SJW and hypericin (HYP, a presumed active moiety within SJW) in an in vitro system. Experiments were performed with 3 to 300 microg ml(-1) of methanol-extracted SJW and 0.03 to 3 microM HYP, representing low to high estimates of intestinal concentrations. 3. In induction experiments, LS-180 intestinal carcinoma cells were exposed for 3 days to SJW, HYP, vehicle or a positive control (ritonavir). P-gp was quantified using Western blot analysis. P-gp expression was strongly induced by SJW (400% increase at 300 microg ml(-1)) and by HYP (700% at 3 microM) in a dose-dependent fashion. Cells chronically treated with SJW had decreased accumulation of rhodamine 123, a P-gp substrate, that was reversed with acute verapamil, a P-gp inhibitor. Fluorescence microscopy of intact cells validated these findings. In Caco-2 cell monolayers, SJW and HYP caused moderate inhibition of P-gp-attributed transport at the maximum concentrations tested. 4. SJW and HYP significantly induced P-gp expression at low, clinically relevant concentrations. Similar effects occurring in vivo may explain the decreased bioavailability of P-gp substrate drugs when co-administered with SJW.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

A benzodiazepine mood effect scale: reliability and validity determined for alcohol-dependent subjects and adults with a parental history of alcoholism.

The Tufts Addiction Research Center Inventory--Morphine Benzedrine Group (ARCI-MBG) scale was designed to measure benzodiazepine-induced mood elevation. The reliability and validity of the Tufts ARCI-MBG scale were determined in 64 subjects with a history of alcoholism (HA), a positive history of parental alcoholism, defined as one or both parents meeting DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol dependence (PHP), and matched control subjects. Significant correlations were found for within-day Tufts ARCI-MBG scale scores for all groups and for between-day scores for PHP and matched control subjects. Interitem reliability was significant for pooled baseline scores. For HA subjects, correlations between mean Tufts ARCI-MBG scale and Drug Liking scores that were obtained after either alprazolam or diazepam administration were significant. These results suggest that the Tufts ARCI-MBG scale is a reliable test that is a valid measure of benzodiazepine-induced mood elevation.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vecuronium in children receiving phenytoin or carbamazepine for chronic anticonvulsant therapy.

The pharmacokinetics and time course of action of vecuronium in normal children and children receiving anticonvulsant drugs for prolonged periods were characterized. A bolus dose of vecuronium 0.15 mg kg(-1) was administered i.v. to 10 non-epileptic children and to 10 children on phenytoin and 10 children on carbamazepine, who were matched for age and weight. Plasma concentrations of vecuronium, 3-OH desacetylvecuronium (the primary metabolite of vecuronium) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were determined. Pharmacokinetic variables were derived from plasma samples collected before and after administration of vecuronium. Neuromuscular transmission was monitored by evoked compound electromyography. Recovery of the first twitch of the train-of-four (T1/T0) and the recovery index (RI), the time for 25-75% recovery of T1/T0, were determined. The elimination half-life of vecuronium was significantly reduced in both anticonvulsant groups compared with control [control 48.2 (SD 40.3), phenytoin 23.5 (13.1), carbamazepine 18.4 (16.6) min, P<0.05]. Vecuronium clearance was increased in both anticonvulsant groups [control 9.0 (3.6), phenytoin 15.1 (8.9), carbamazepine 18.8 (13.1) ml kg(-1) min(-1), 0.05<P<0.1]. Children on chronic anticonvulsant therapy had a significantly shorter RI than control [control 21.8 (11), phenytoin 12.5 (8.3), carbamazepine 10.6 (5.9) min, P<0.05]. Concentrations of vecuronium at different degrees of recovery of T1, volumes of distribution and AAG concentrations were not different between groups. Our data confirm anticonvulsant-induced resistance to vecuronium in children and support a pharmacokinetic component contributing to the resistance.

Adolescent↗

Cytochrome P-450 2B6 is responsible for interindividual variability of propofol hydroxylation by human liver microsomes.

BACKGROUND: Oxidation of propofol to 4-hydroxypropofol represents a significant pathway in the metabolism of this anesthetic agent in humans. The aim of this study was to identify the principal cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoforms mediating this biotransformation. METHODS: Propofol hydroxylation activities and enzyme kinetics were determined using human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYPs. CYP-specific marker activities and CYP2B6 protein content were also quantified in hepatic microsomes for correlational analyses. Finally, inhibitory antibodies were used to ascertain the relative contribution of CYPs to propofol hydroxylation by hepatic microsomes. RESULTS: Propofol hydroxylation by hepatic microsomes showed more than 19-fold variability and was most closely correlated to CYP2B6 protein content (r = 0.904), and the CYP2B6 marker activities, S-mephenytoin N-demethylation (r = 0.919) and bupropion hydroxylation (r = 0.854). High- and intermediate-activity livers demonstrated high-affinity enzyme kinetics (K(m) < 8 microm), whereas low-activity livers displayed low-affinity kinetics (K(m) > 80 microm). All of the CYPs evaluated were capable of hydroxylating propofol; however, CYP2B6 and CYP2C9 were most active. Kinetic analysis indicated that CYP2B6 is a high-affinity (K(m) = 10 +/- 2 microm; mean +/- SE of the estimate), high-capacity enzyme, whereas CYP2C9 is a low-affinity (K(m) = 41 +/- 8 microm), high-capacity enzyme. Furthermore, immunoinhibition showed a greater contribution of CYP2B6 (56 +/- 22% inhibition; mean +/- SD) compared with CYP2C isoforms (16 +/- 7% inhibition) to hepatic microsomal activity. CONCLUSIONS: Cytochrome P-450 2B6, and to a lesser extent CYP2C9, contribute to the oxidative metabolism of propofol. However, CYP2B6 is the principal determinant of interindividual variability in the hydroxylation of this drug by human liver microsomes.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Molecular and pharmacokinetic evaluation of rat hepatic and gastrointestinal cytochrome p450 induction by tamoxifen.

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a first-line endocrine treatment for all stages of postmenopausal breast cancer. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes catalyze the majority of TAM's primary metabolism, producing N-desmethyltamoxifen (DMT) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OH-TAM) in both humans and rats. CYP 3A isoforms are the predominant subfamily involved in the formation of DMT and recent studies have shown that TAM induces hepatic forms of these enzymes. TAM's inductive effect on gastrointestinal CYP 3A has not been previously reported. The current studies investigated TAM's induction of CYP isoforms (3A and 2B) in female rat gastrointestinal and hepatic tissue at the mRNA, protein, and catalytic level. Since previous studies have not addressed whether TAM induction causes changes to the overall pharmacokinetics (PKs), a rat PK model was used to determine if TAM induced its own metabolism, and/or the metabolism of a CYP 3A substrate, midazolam (MDZ). Phenobarbital (PB) and/or dexamethasone (DEX) were used as positive controls for all studies. TAM significantly induced, or caused a trend towards induction of all studied parameters for hepatic CYP 3A and 2B, whereas intestinal CYP 3A and 2B analysis did not show significant induction by TAM at any level. A study evaluating time-dependent alterations in the PK profile of TAM showed no change in apparent oral clearance (Cl(app)) during two weeks of chronic dosing with TAM. However, the Cl(app) for MDZ was shown to trend towards an increase after two weeks of dosing with TAM, in a second PK study. These combined investigations suggest that TAM is an inducer of rat hepatic CYP 3A and 2B isoforms, and this agent has the potential of influencing the PK of coadministered 3A substrates.

Analysis of Variance↗

Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 isoforms by nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

The capacity of three clinically available nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) to inhibit the activity of human cytochromes P450 (CYPs) was studied in vitro using human liver microsomes. Delavirdine, nevirapine, and efavirenz produced negligible inhibition of phenacetin O-deethylation (CYP1A2) or dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6). Nevirapine did not inhibit hydroxylation of tolbutamide (CYP2C9) or S-mephenytoin (CYP2C19), but these CYP isoforms were importantly inhibited by delavirdine and efavirenz. This indicates the likelihood of significantly impaired clearance of CYP2C substrate drugs (such as phenytoin, tolbutamide, and warfarin) upon initial exposure to these two NNRTIs. Delavirdine and efavirenz (but not nevirapine) also were strong inhibitors of CYP3A, consistent with clinical hazards of initial cotreatment with either of these drugs and substrates of CYP3A. The in vitro microsomal model provides relevant predictive data on probable drug interactions with NNRTIs when the mechanism is inhibition of CYP-mediated drug biotransformation. However, the model does not incorporate interactions attributable to enzyme induction.

Alkynes↗

P-glycoprotein interactions of nefazodone and trazodone in cell culture.

This study investigated the effects of nefazodone (NFZ) and trazodone (TZD) on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity and expression in cell culture. NFZ and TZD showed no differential transport between the basolateral to apical and apical to basolateral direction across Caco-2 cell monolayers. Transport in either direction was not affected by verapamil. NFZ was a potent inhibitor (IC50 = 4.7 microM) of rhodamine123 (Rh123) B to A transport across Caco-2 cell monolayers, while TZD had minimal effect. Following 72-hour exposure of LS180V cells to NFZ and TZD (10 microM), a twofold increase in immunoreactive P-gp was observed. Rh123 accumulation into these cells was reduced to 65% and 74% of control by NFZ and TZD (10 microM), respectively. It was concluded that differential rates of transport of NFZ and TZD in Caco-2 cells were not evident. However, NFZ is an inhibitor of P-gp activity at clinically relevant in vivo concentrations and may have the potential to increase bioavailability of coadministered compounds that are substrates for transport. Concentrations of NFZ and TZD achieved in the intestine after chronic oral dosing may induce P-gp expression and reduce absorption of coadministered drugs.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗