Active transport of glucuronide out of cells is a critical process in elimination of drugs via the glucuronidation pathway. Here, HeLa cells were stably transfected with UGT1A1 and the contributions of BCRP and MRP family transporters to the cellular efflux of chrysin glucuronide (CG) were determined. The cDNA of UGT1A1 was introduced into HeLa cells using the lentiviral transfection method. The modified cells were functional in generation of the glucuronide from chrysin. Ko143 at 10-20 mM (a dual inhibitor of BCRP and UGT1A1) caused a marked decrease (51.3%-59.7%, P < 0.01) in the excretion rate and efflux clearance of CG. Likewise, MK-571 at 5-20 mM (an inhibitor of MRPs but an activator of UGT1A1) resulted in a significant reduction in the excretion rate (18.2%-64.0%, P < 0.01) and efflux clearance (37.0%-90.2%, P < 0.001). By contrast, dipyridamole and leukotriene C4 showed no inhibitory effects on CG excretion. The chemical inhibition indicated that excretion of CG was contributed by the MRP family transporters, whereas the role of BCRP was unclear. Furthermore, short hairpin RNA-mediated silencing of a target transporter led to a marked reduction in the excretion rate of CG (38.6% for BCRP, 39.3% for MRP1, 36.4% for MRP3, and 28.7% for MRP4; P < 0.01). Transporter silencing also led to substantial decreases in the efflux clearance (44.7% for BCRP, 60.4% for MRP1, 36.7% for MRP3, and 28.7% for MRP4; P < 0.01). The gene silencing results suggested that BCRP, MRP1, MRP3, and MRP4 were significant contributors to excretion of CG.
Efflux of glucuronide is facilitated by the membrane transporters including BCRP and MRPs. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of transporter expression on glucuronide efflux and cellular glucuronidation. Single efflux transporter (i.e., BCRP, MRP1, MRP3, or MRP4) was stably knocked-down in UGT1A1-overexpressing HeLa cells. Knock-down of transporters was performed by stable transfection of short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) using lentiviral vectors. Glucuronidation and glucuronide transport in the cells were characterized using three different aglycones (i.e., genistein, apigenin, and emodin) with distinct metabolic activities. BCRP knock-down resulted in significant reductions in excretion of glucuronides (42.9% for genistein glucuronide (GG), 21.1% for apigenin glucuronide (AG) , and 33.7% for emodin glucuronide (EG); p < 0.01) and in cellular glucuronidation (38.3% for genistein, 38.6% for apigenin, and 34.7% for emodin; p < 0.01). Knock-down of a MRP transporter led to substantial decreases in excretion of GG (32.3% for MRP1, 36.7% for MRP3, and 36.6% for MRP4; p < 0.01) and AG (59.3% for MRP1, 24.7% for MRP3, and 34.1% for MRP4; p < 0.01). Also, cellular glucuronidation of genistein (38.3% for MRP1, 32.3% for MRP3, and 31.1% for MRP4; p < 0.01) and apigenin (40.6% for MRP1, 32.4% for MRP3, and 34.6% for MRP4; p < 0.001) was markedly suppressed. By contrast, silencing of MRPs did not cause any changes in either excretion of EG or cellular glucuronidation of emodin. In conclusion, cellular glucuronidation was significantly altered by decreasing expression of efflux transporters, revealing a strong interplay of glucuronidation with efflux transport.
Introduction
SNX-2112 is a promising anticancer agent but has poor solubility in both water and oil. In the study reported here, we aimed to develop a nanocrystal formulation for SNX-2112 and to determine the pharmacokinetic behaviors of the prepared nanocrystals.
Methods
Nanocrystals of SNX-2112 were prepared using the wet-media milling technique and characterized by particle size, differential scanning calorimetry, drug release, etc. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling was undertaken to evaluate the drug’s disposition in rats following administration of drug cosolvent or nanocrystals.
Results
The optimized SNX-2112 nanocrystals (with poloxamer 188 as the stabilizer) were 203 nm in size with a zeta potential of −11.6 mV. In addition, the nanocrystals showed a comparable release profile to the control (drug cosolvent). Further, the rat PBPK model incorporating the parameters of particulate uptake (into the liver and spleen) and of in vivo drug release was well fitted to the experimental data following administration of the drug nanocrystals. The results reveal that the nanocrystals rapidly released drug molecules in vivo, accounting for their cosolvent-like pharmacokinetic behaviors. Due to particulate uptake, drug accumulation in the liver and spleen was significant at the initial time points (within 1 hour).
Conclusion
The nanocrystals should be a good choice for the systemic delivery of the poorly soluble drug SNX-2112. Also, our study contributes to an improved understanding of the in vivo fate of nanocrystals.
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