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D K Meijer

Publications and source records attributed to D K Meijer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Hepatic uptake of the magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent gadoxetate by the organic anion transporting polypeptide Oatp1.

Gadoxetate is a new hepatobiliary magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. It is specifically taken up by hepatocytes, and its uptake can be inhibited by the coadministration of bromosulfophthalein, suggesting an involvement of one or several of the cloned organic anion transporting polypeptides Oatp1, Oatp2, and/or OATP. In this study, we demonstrated saturable uptake of gadoxetate by Oatp1 cRNA-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes (Km approximately 3.3 mM). In contrast, gadoxetate was not taken up by Oatp2 or OATP cRNA-injected oocytes. Oatp1-mediated gadoxetate uptake (100 microM) could be inhibited by 10 microM bromosulfophthalein (45%), 200 microM taurocholate (92%), 100 microM rifamycin SV (97%), and 100 microM rifampicin (51%). These results show that gadoxetate is a low-affinity substrate of Oatp1. Oatp1-mediated gadoxetate transport demonstrated a similar apparent Km value and cis-inhibition pattern as previously determined in rats in vivo, indicating that Oatp1 is significantly involved in gadoxetate uptake into rat liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Polyspecific organic anion transporting polypeptides mediate hepatic uptake of amphipathic type II organic cations.

Hepatic uptake of albumin-bound amphipathic organic cations has been suggested to be mediated by multispecific bile salt and organic anion transport systems. Therefore, we investigated whether the recently cloned rat organic anion transporting polypeptides 1 and 2 as well as the human organic anion transporting polypeptide might be involved in the hepatocellular uptake of bulky type II organic cations. In cRNA-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes, all three carriers mediated uptake of the known type II model compounds N-(4, 4-azo-n-pentyl)-21-deoxy-ajmalinium and rocuronium, whereas the newly synthesized type II model compounds N-methyl-quinine and N-methyl-quinidine were transported only by the human organic anion transporting polypeptide. This carrier-mediated uptake of N-methyl-quinine and N-methyl-quinidine was sodium-independent and saturable with apparent K(m) values of approximately 5 and approximately 26 microM, respectively. In contrast to bulky type II organic cations, more hydrophilic type I organic cations such as tributylmethylammonium and choline were not transported by any of the organic anion transporting polypeptides. These findings demonstrate that organic anion transporting polypeptides can also mediate hepatocellular uptake of type II organic cations, whereas uptake of small and more water-soluble type I cations is mediated by different transport systems such as the organic cation transporters.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Specific delivery of captopril to the kidney with the prodrug captopril-lysozyme.

Low-molecular-weight proteins (LMWPs) accumulate in the proximal tubular cells of the kidney, which makes these proteins interesting tools for renal drug targeting. We studied this approach using the LMWP lysozyme as a carrier for the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. Captopril was conjugated to lysozyme via a disulfide bond. The pharmacokinetics of the captopril-lysozyme conjugate was studied in the rat. Only intact conjugate could be detected in the circulation. The total amount of captopril disulfides in the kidney was six times higher after administration of the conjugate than after the administration of an equivalent amount of free captopril. The conjugate was recovered in the urine partially as intact conjugate and partially as low-molecular-weight disulfides. The excretion of conjugate in the urine was not a consequence of the coupling of captopril to lysozyme because an equivalent bolus dose of native lysozyme was similarly excreted into the urine. By determination of the renal angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, we showed that the conjugate was degraded to the pharmacologically active captopril in vivo. We conclude that the coupling of captopril to the LMWP lysozyme results in increased captopril concentrations in the kidney and reduced captopril concentrations in the circulation.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1998

Tumor vasculature targeted therapies: getting the players organized.

Based on their location and central role in solid tumor growth, tumor vascular endothelial cells may present an attractive target for the delivery of therapeutic drugs or cells. The potency of blocking the tumor blood supply in eradicating solid tumors was demonstrated recently in a mouse model of tumor vasculature targeting (Huang et al., Science 275: 547-550, 1997). For clinical application of such strategies, tumor endothelium specific target epitopes need to be identified. Recent studies on angiogenesis have identified angiogenesis-related molecules as potential target epitopes. Among these are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF-receptor complex, alpha(v) integrins, and Tie receptor tyrosine kinases. Besides blockade of their signalling cascades leading to inhibition of angiogenesis, these epitopes may also be instrumental in tumor vessel specific delivery of therapeutics. Data on the efficacy of therapeutic modalities aimed at these, mostly heterogeneously distributed tumor endothelial epitopes are scarce, and sophisticated experimentation is required to rationalize the development of new therapeutic strategies. Importantly, only detailed evaluations in cancer patients will provide the blueprint for the development of clinically effective tumor vascular targeted therapies.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of in vitro lymphocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration by fluorescent-beads-based flow cytometric cell counting.

In this report, we describe a new and simple method for flow cytometric quantitation of lymphocyte numbers in lymphocyte-endothelial adhesion/ transendothelial migration assays. The method exploits fluorescent flow cytometer alignment beads as a counting reference. Known amounts of beads are added to samples with unknown lymphocyte numbers. Lymphocytes and a preset number of fluorescent beads are simultaneously analyzed. The total number of cells present in the sample can be subsequently calculated from the fixed ratio of added to analyzed fluorescent beads. Using this fluorescent-beads-based flow cytometric cell counting of lymphocyte numbers in adhesion/migration assays, labeling of cells and other time-consuming calibration procedures are not required and analysis time is short. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this cell counting method can be combined with concurrent single- or double-label fluorescence flow cytometric phenotyping of adherent and migrated lymphocytes. The method was applied to the in vitro study of the effects of lymphocyte activation status and binding of bispecific antibody (directed against CD3 x tumor cell-associated antigen) on lymphocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Contribution of the murine mdr1a P-glycoprotein to hepatobiliary and intestinal elimination of cationic drugs as measured in mice with an mdr1a gene disruption.

In the mouse, both the mdr1a and the mdr1b gene encode drug-transporting P-glycoproteins. The mdr1a P-glycoprotein is expressed in epithelial cells of, among others, the liver and the intestine. Furthermore, the mdr1b gene product is found in the liver but is not detectable in the intestine. To establish the potential involvement of P-glycoprotein in the elimination of cationic amphiphilic drugs from the body, we investigated biliary, intestinal, and urinary excretion in mice with a homozygous disruption of the mdr1a gene (mdr1a(-/-) mice). These mice are fully viable under laboratory conditions and have normal bile flow. Cumulative biliary excretion (expressed as percent of the intravenously administered dose excreted over a 1-hour period) of several cationic compounds was decreased as follows in mdr1a(-/-) mice compared with the wild-type animals: tri-n-butylmethylammonium (TBuMA), 0.7% versus 2.1%; azidoprocainamide methoiodide (APM), 3.8% versus 7.6%; and vecuronium, 22.7% versus 41.3%. The luminal secretion of both TBuMA and APM in the small intestine was profoundly decreased, respectively 4.6-fold (1.8% vs. 8.2% in the wild-type) and 7.9-fold (1.6% vs. 10.3% in the wild-type) in mdr1a(-/-) mice. Thus mdr1a P-glycoprotein contributes substantially to the removal of a wide variety of cationic agents from the body through intestinal and hepatobiliary secretion, but it evidently acts in concert with other transport system(s). These processes probably provide a protective mechanism limiting the overall rate of absorption as well as the bioavailability of potentially toxic organic amines.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1998

Up-regulation of the multidrug resistance genes, Mrp1 and Mdr1b, and down-regulation of the organic anion transporter, Mrp2, and the bile salt transporter, Spgp, in endotoxemic rat liver.

Endotoxin-induced cholestasis is mainly caused by an impaired canalicular secretion. Mrp2, the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, is strongly down-regulated in this situation, and canalicular bile salt secretion is also reduced. We hypothesized that other adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporters may compensate for the decreased transport activity to protect the cell from cytokine-induced oxidative damage. Therefore, we examined the expression of ABC-transport proteins in membrane fractions of whole liver and of isolated hepatocytes of endotoxin-treated rats and performed reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on mRNA isolated from these livers. In addition, the localization of these transporters was examined using confocal scanning laser microscopy. By 6 hours after endotoxin administration, we found a clear increase of mrp1 mRNA and protein, whereas mrp2 mRNA and protein were decreased. This was confirmed in isolated hepatocytes. In addition, mdr1b mRNA was strongly increased, whereas mdr1a and mdr2 mRNA did not change significantly. Both the mRNA and protein levels of the sister of P-glycoprotein (spgp), the recently cloned bile salt transporter, decreased. After endotoxin treatment, the normally sharply delineated canalicular staining of mrp2 and spgp had changed to a fuzzy pattern, suggesting localization in a subapical compartment. We conclude that endotoxin-induced cholestasis is caused by decreased mrp2 and spgp levels, as well as an abnormal localization of these proteins. The simultaneous up-regulation of mrp1 and mdr1b may confer resistance to hepatocytes against cytokine-induced metabolic stress.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1998

The stereoisomers quinine and quinidine exhibit a marked stereoselectivity in the inhibition of hepatobiliary transport of cardiac glycosides.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Certain basic (cationic) drugs are known to interact with the hepatic transport, and renal and/or biliary clearance of cardiac glycosides. The mechanisms behind these interactions are not fully understood. In the present study our aim was to investigate the effects of the two diastereomers, quinidine and quinine, as well as the calcium antagonist verapamil, on the hepatobiliary elimination of digoxin and ouabain in the isolated perfused rat liver. METHODS: Livers from male, fasting Wistar rats were perfused by recirculation of Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer supplemented with 1% BSA. Disposition of digoxin or ouabain was studied at an initial perfusion medium concentration (Ci) of 100 or 10 nmol/l for digoxin and a Ci of 30 micromol/l for ouabain. The Ci of quinine, quinidine or verapamil was 50 micromol/l. Concentrations of the drugs in perfusion medium and bile were followed up to 2 h. RESULTS: A marked reduction in the initial medium disappearance rate of digoxin and ouabain by quinine was found, whereas quinidine did not affect the hepatic disposition of the cardiac glycosides. The stereoselective inhibition of digoxin and ouabain clearance by quinine, and not by quinidine, was shown to be due to an effect on the hepatic uptake level rather than on the metabolic conversion and/or the biliary excretion steps. An allosteric type of inhibition by the basic drugs, exerted from the inside of the cells, is inferred. This interaction may occur at the sinusoidal plasma membrane on the level of multi-specific carrier proteins for cardiac glycosides and cationic drugs, as cloned recently by various groups. CONCLUSIONS: A marked stereoselective difference was found in the effect of the stereoisomers quinidine and quinine on the hepatic uptake of digoxin and ouabain, quinine being the potent inhibitor.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Targeting of sugar- and charge-modified albumins to fibrotic rat livers: the accessibility of hepatic cells after chronic bile duct ligation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In normal rat livers, cell-selective delivery of drugs to hepatocytes, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells can be achieved by coupling drugs to lactosaminated human serum albumin (lacHSA), succinylated HSA (sucHSA) and mannosylated HSA (manHSA), respectively. Since fibrosis is associated with increased matrix deposition and sinusoidal capillarization, and since these modified albumins may serve as carriers for anti-fibrotic drugs, we determined the hepatic disposition of these albumins in rats with liver fibrosis. METHODS: At different time points after bile duct ligation, a bolus dose of either lacHSA, sucHSA or manHSA (fluorescein labelled) was intravenously injected and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Organ distributions of the 125I-labelled carriers were assessed in normal and fibrotic rats. In addition, their intrahepatic distributions were determined by immunohistochemical inspection. RESULTS: In rats with liver fibrosis, the plasma disappearance rate of the three proteins was significantly altered as compared to control rats. A moderately decreased clearance for lacHSA, an increased plasma clearance for manHSA and sucHSA, and an increased volume of distribution for all three proteins was found. Despite these pharmacokinetic alterations, tissue distribution studies still showed selective accumulation of the three modified proteins in livers of diseased animals. Moreover, the intrahepatic distribution of these drug-carriers during fibrosis was similar to distribution in normal livers. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that cell-specific delivery of sugar- and charge-modified albumins in fibrotic livers is possible. Despite the increased matrix deposition during fibrosis, the accessibility of the different liver cell types for the carriers was not significantly altered as compared to normal livers. The availability of a complete set of carriers for the different liver cell types provides opportunities for the development of effective therapeutic strategies based on drug targeting.

Amino Sugars↗
PubMed1998

Stereoselective inhibition by the diastereomers quinidine and quinine of uptake of cardiac glycosides into isolated rat hepatocytes.

The pharmacokinetic interaction between quinidine and digoxin in patients is well-known, in general requiring a dose reduction of digoxin in patients concomitantly treated with quinidine. Quinine, the diastereomer of quinidine, has not been as extensively studied in this respect. In addition to an interaction with the renal clearance of digoxin by quinidine, both diastereomers have been reported to inhibit the biliary clearance of digoxin in man. To further investigate the mechanisms of these hepatobiliary transport interactions at the cellular level, we compared the effects of quinidine and quinine, as well as of the calcium antagonist verapamil, on the uptake of digoxin and ouabain in isolated rat hepatocytes. Initial uptake rates of digoxin and ouabain were determined in the presence of various concentrations of quinine and quinidine. A concentration dependent inhibition of the cellular uptake of both cardiac glycosides by quinine and quinidine was found, quinine being a more potent inhibitor than quinidine. Our results indicate a stereoselective inhibition of the hepatocellular uptake by the two diastereomers quinidine and quinine, the latter being about equipotent to verapamil. This unequal inhibitory potency of the two basic drugs was detected earlier in oocyte studies with the cloned organic cation transporter OCT1.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Interactions between P-glycoprotein substrates and other cationic drugs at the hepatic excretory level.

1. In the present study it was tested whether known P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates/MDR reversal agents interact with small (type 1) and bulky (type 2) cationic drugs at the level of biliary excretion in the rat isolated perfused liver model (IPRL). The studies were performed with model compounds tri-n-butylmethylammonium (TBuMA) (a relatively small type 1 organic cation), rocuronium (Roc) (a bulky type 2 organic cation) and the classical P-gp substrate doxorubicin (Dox). 2. Inhibitors were given in a 4 fold molar excess to the substrate studied. To minimize an interaction of the substrates at the hepatic uptake level, the competing compounds were added when over 55% to 85% of the administered dose of the model compounds had been removed from the perfusate and taken up by the liver. 3. We found a mutual interaction between TBuMA and procainamidethobromide (PAEB), both type 1 cationic compounds during biliary excretion. Interestingly, type 2 compounds, such as rocuronium, clearly inhibited type 1 cationic drugs as well as Dox secretion into bile, whereas type 1 compounds did not significantly inhibit type 2 drug excretion into bile. The type 1 cations PAEB and TBuMA only moderately inhibited Dox biliary excretion. Dox did not inhibit the biliary excretion of the type 2 agent rocuronium whereas rocuronium reduced Dox biliary excretion by 50% compared to controls. 4. MDR substrates/reversal agents like verapamil, quinine, quinidine and vinblastine strongly reduced both type 1 and type 2 organic cation excretion into bile. Dox secretion into bile was also profoundly reduced by these drugs, vinblastine being the most potent inhibitor in general. 5. The lack of mutual inhibition observed in some combinations of substrates may indicate that major differences in affinity of the substrates for a single excretory system exist. Alternatively, multiple organic cation transport systems with separate substrate specificities may be involved in the biliary excretion of amphiphilic drugs. Furthermore, the present study revealed a clear positive correlation between the lipophilicity of the potential inhibitors studied and their respective inhibitory activity on the biliary excretion of the model drugs investigated. 6. Our data are compatible with a potential involvement of P-glycoprotein in the hepatobiliary excretion of doxorubicin as well as of some type 1 and type 2 organic cations. Furthermore we postulate that the hydrophobic properties of the amphiphilic cationic drugs studied play a crucial role in the accommodation of these agents by P-glycoprotein and/or other potential cationic drug carrier proteins in the canalicular membrane.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1998

Hepatobiliary and intestinal clearance of amphiphilic cationic drugs in mice in which both mdr1a and mdr1b genes have been disrupted.

1. We have used mice with homozygously disrupted mdr1a and mdr1b genes (mdr1a/1b (-/-) mice) to study the role of the mdr1-type P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the elimination of cationic amphiphilic compounds from the body. These mice lack drug-transporting P-gps, but show no physiological abnormalities under laboratory conditions and have normal bile flow. 2. 3H-labelled cationic drugs were administered intravenously (i.v.) to mice as a single bolus dose and the disposition of the studied cationic drugs was investigated by focusing on drug secretion into bile, intestinal lumen and urine. 3. Hepatobiliary secretion of the investigated cationic drugs was profoundly reduced in mice devoid of the mdr1-type P-gps. In fact, the cumulative biliary output, measured during 1 h, of the small type 1 compounds tri-butylmethyl ammonium (TBuMA) and azidoprocainamide methoiodide (APM), as well as of the more bulky type 2 cationic drug vecuronium, was reduced by at least 70% in the mdrla/lb (-/-) mice compared to wild-type. 4. The intestinal secretion of TBuMA, APM and vecuronium was also profoundly reduced in mdrla/lb (-/-) mice compared to wild-type mice. The absence of the mdrl-type P-gp resulted in virtual elimination of intestinal secretion of TBuMA and APM (>90% reduced as compared to wild-type (P=0.0001 and 0.0022, respectively)). The intestinal secretion of the type 2 cation drug vecuronium was reduced by 58% (P=0.0004) compared to the wild-type mice. 5. Increased renal clearances of both the type 1 compounds TBuMA and APM and also of the type 2 cationic compound vecuronium in the mdrla/lb (-/-) mice were observed. Furthermore, the balance between hepatic, intestinal and renal clearances of small type 1 organic cations clearly shifted towards a predominant role for renal clearance. Increased renal clearance may be explained by (over)expression of additional mechanisms for renal organic cation secretion, alternatively they may also point to an as yet undefined role of P-glycoprotein in kidney physiology and renal secretory function. 6. We conclude that the elimination from the body of a broad spectrum of cationic amphiphilic drugs via liver and intestine, is largely dictated by the activity of mdrl-type P-glycoproteins.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗
PubMed1998

Renal targeting of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug: effects on renal prostaglandin synthesis in the rat.

1. Renal specific targeting of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen was obtained by coupling to the low-molecular-mass protein lysozyme. A previous study showed that conjugation to lysozyme resulted in a 70-fold increase of naproxen accumulation in the kidney with a subsequent renal release of the active metabolite naproxen-lysine.2. In the present study we questioned whether naproxen-lysozyme is active in the rat kidney, inhibiting the urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 and renal sodium and water excretion in salt-restricted baseline conditions as well as during frusemide treatment.3.A high dose of free naproxen (10 mg.day-1. kg-1) did not affect prostaglandin E2 excretion in baseline conditions (naproxen, 11+/-1 ng/8 h; vehicle, 13+/-4 ng/8 h), whereas sodium and water excretion were, respectively, 3.0 and 1.6 times lower in the naproxen group (P<0.05). Naproxen completely prevented the frusemide-induced increase (3-fold) in prostaglandin E2 excretion (naproxen 6.6+/-1.1 ng/8 h, vehicle 40+/-12 ng/8 h, P<0. 005). Frusemide-stimulated natriuresis and diuresis were, respectively, 1.6 (P<0.05) and 1.8 times (P<0.005) lower in the naproxen group.4.A dose of 2 mg.day-1.kg-1 lysozyme-conjugated naproxen did not affect prostaglandin E2 excretion in baseline conditions (conjugate, 18+/-2 ng/8 h; vehicle, 24+/-5 ng/8 h). The conjugate also had no effect on sodium and water excretion. However, the naproxen conjugate completely prevented the frusemide-induced increase (2-fold) in prostaglandin E2 excretion (conjugate, 16+/-3 ng/8 h; vehicle, 48+/-13 ng/8 h, P<0.05). Surprisingly, frusemide-induced natriuresis and diuresis were not affected by the conjugate.5. In conclusion, a renal specific delivery of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen using lysozyme results in an inhibitory effect on renal prostaglandin E2 synthesis but does not affect the excretion of sodium and water, in contrast to free naproxen.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effect of cold and warm ischaemia on drug metabolism in isolated hepatocytes and slices from human and monkey liver.

1. The influence of short-term cold storage in University of Wisconsin organ preservation solution (UW) on the ability to metabolize lidocaine, testosterone and 7-ethoxycoumarin in isolated human and cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) hepatocytes and liver slices has been investigated. 2. The human liver tissue was obtained from two different sources, i.e. healthy liver tissue from patients undergoing partial hepatectomy because of metastases of colorectal carcinoma (PH livers) and donor tissue remaining as surgical waste after reduced size or split liver transplantation (Tx livers). Tx livers were perfused in situ with ice-cold UW avoiding warm ischaemia. This in contrast with PH livers, where the operation caused warm ischaemia for 5-90 min. 3. Liver slices and hepatocytes from cynomolgus monkey liver showed comparable metabolic rates for the substrates tested, indicating that all hepatocytes in the slice are participating in the biotransformation of the substrates. These monkey liver preparations can be stored up to 18 h with only a slight loss of their metabolic capacity. 4. Liver slices and isolated hepatocytes from the Tx livers as well as isolated cells from the PH livers could also be stored up to 18 h without losing metabolic capacity. However, for liver slices prepared from PH livers cold storage is not recommended, because metabolic function was reduced by approximately 40% after 18 h.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A rapid and simple method for cryopreservation of human liver slices.

1. Precision-cut liver slices represent a suitable and convenient in vitro preparation for studying metabolism and toxicity mechanisms of drugs and toxic chemicals. Particularly in the case of human liver slices, cryopreservation would enable more efficient utilization of this scarce and irregularly available tissue. 2. Liver slices from consecutive human livers were cryopreserved using a method previously developed for rat and monkey liver slices. This procedure involves incubation in 12% dimethyl sulphoxide for 30 min on ice and direct immersion into liquid nitrogen. 3. Functional integrity of cryopreserved human liver slices, as compared with that of fresh liver slices, was maintained at 66 +/- 8% (alanine aminotransferase activity retained in the slices), 78 +/- 7% (urea synthesis), 88 +/- 14% (testosterone hydroxylation), 84 +/- 7% (N-deethylation of lidocaine) and 88 +/- 10% (total O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin). The ratios of testosterone metabolites did not change on cryopreservation. 4. These results show that the cryopreserved human liver slices retained the measured drug metabolism activities. Therefore, this cryopreservation method is suitable for storing liver slices to be used for comparing drug metabolism patterns, at least qualitatively, between species.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Drug delivery to the kidneys and the bladder with the low molecular weight protein lysozyme.

The low molecular weight protein (LMWP) lysozyme is a suitable drug carrier for renal drug targeting. When the tubular reabsorption of a LMWP can be prevented, the protein will be excreted in the urine. In this way, lysozyme (LZM) conjugates might also be used as carriers for targeting to the urinary tract. Since positive domains on the protein surface are important for the interaction with the tubular uptake-receptor, we studied the urinary excretion of a drug-LZM conjugate with and without positive charge on the LMWP. We synthesized two conjugates with the fluorescent compound fluorescein. A positively charged conjugate was obtained by reacting fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) with LZM at a 1:1 molar to molar ratio; this conjugate contained six free primary aminogroups. The conjugate without positively charged groups was obtained by reacting the remaining free primary aminogroups of the FITC-LZM with succinic anhydride (Suc). The Suc-FITC-LZM contained only 0.2 free primary aminogroups per molecule. We studied the pharmacokinetics of the conjugates in freely moving Wistar rats. The FITC-LZM conjugate was excreted intactly into the urine for 29 +/- 4% of the injected dose. The Suc-FITC-LZM was excreted into the urine intactly for 45 +/- 4%. These data indicate that the excretion of a drug-LMWP conjugate into the urine can be increased by decreasing the positive charge on the carrier surface. Such a carrier may be an attractive candidate for drug targeting to the bladder.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Targeting of naproxen covalently linked to HSA to sinusoidal cell types of the liver.

The kinetic behaviour of a naproxen human serum albumin conjugate (Nap23-HSA) was investigated in rats and in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRL), as compared to its active metabolite naproxen-lysine (Nap-lysine) and free naproxen. Through covalently linking the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen to HSA, this drug can be selectively delivered to non parenchymal cells of the liver. Liver endothelial and Kupffer cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory liver diseases. Targeting naproxen to these cells might increase its efficacy and reduce the side effects. The altered kinetic properties of Nap23-HSA, after i.v. injection of 22 mg x kg(-1), as compared to an equimolar amount of the uncoupled drug, were demonstrated in vivo by a decrease in the steady state volume of distribution (41 +/- 5 vs. 134 +/- 19 ml x kg(-1)), a decrease in its clearance (0.48 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.1 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1)), a shorter plasma half life (60 +/- 11 vs. 152 +/- 44 min) and a sustained biliary excretion. Liver targeting of Nap23-HSA was clearly demonstrated: drug content of the liver 180 min after injection was about 30 times higher for Nap23-HSA as compared to naproxen itself. The IPRL experiments showed that the Vmax of hepatic removal of the conjugate was 40 microg x min(-1) x g liver(-1). With doses below receptor saturation a rapid removal of the conjugate (t1/2 = 6 min) from the perfusion medium was found. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the saturable uptake of Nap23-HSA and its lysosomal degradation in both in vivo and IPRL experiments. Covalently linked naproxen is released as Nap-lysine. This active metabolite accumulates in Kupffer and endothelial cells in which it reaches therapeutic concentrations. Release from these cells leads to rapid uptake by hepatocytes and carrier mediated excretion into bile. Levels of Nap-lysine in bile and plasma reflect the slowest step in its generation: the proteolytic release in endothelial and Kupffer cells.

Animals↗