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Permeability estimates using Caco-2 cells do not accurately predict the absorption of hydrophilic drugs that are primarily absorbed via the paracellular pathway. The objective of this study was to investigate whether modulation of tight junctions would help differentiation of paracellularly absorbed compounds. Tight junctions in Caco-2 cell monolayers were manipulated using calcium depletion approaches to decrease the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of the monolayers, and permeability of hydrophilic compounds were measured under these conditions. Permeability of these compounds were also measured in Calu-3 cells, which have tighter junctions than Caco-2 cells. Calcium depletion loosened the tight junctions of Caco-2 cells to varying levels as measured by the decrease in TEER values of the monolayers. While the absolute permeability of all the model compounds increased as the tight junctions were loosened, the ratios of their permeability relative to mannitol permeability were similar. The permeability of these compounds in the tighter Calu-3 cells were also found to be similar to each other. Altering the tight junctions of Caco-2 cells to obtain leakier cell monolayers, or using a cell line with tighter junctions like Calu-3 cells, did not improve differentiation between well absorbed and poorly absorbed hydrophilic drugs. Mere manipulation of the tight junctions to increase or decrease transepithelial electrical resistance does not appear to be a viable approach to predict human absorption for hydrophilic compounds that are primarily absorbed via the paracellular pathway.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of stably transfected MDCK-hPepT1 cells for identifying peptide transporter substrates in early drug discovery and compare the characteristics of this cell line with Caco-2 cells. MDCK-hPepT1, MDCK-mock, and Caco-2 cells grown to confluence on 24-well Transwell were used for this study. Expression levels of different transporter proteins (PepT1, PepT2, P-gp) in these cell lines were assessed by qRT-PCR. Permeability studies were conducted in parallel in all the cells with a diverse set of peptide substrates using the optimized experimental condition: 100 microM, apical pH 6.0, basolateral pH 7.4, 2 hr incubation at 37 degrees C. Permeability studies were also conducted with classical P-gp substrates (tested in bi-directional mode) and paracellularly absorbed probes to investigate the differences between the cell lines. As expected, MDCK-hPepT1 cells express significantly higher level of PepT1 mRNA compared to both Caco-2 and MDCK-mock cells. Efflux transporter, P-gp, was expressed adequately in all the cell lines. Permeability studies demonstrated that classical peptide substrates had significantly higher permeability in stably transfected MDCK-hPepT1 cells compared to MDCK-mock and Caco-2 cells. The transfected MDCK-hPepT1 cells were qualitatively similar to Caco-2 cells with respect to functional P-gp efflux activity and paracellular pore activity. Stably transfected MDCK-hPepT1 cells have been demonstrated as a viable alternative to Caco-2 cells for estimating the human absorption potential of peptide transporter substrates. These cells behave similar to Caco-2 cells with regards to P-gp efflux and paracellular pore activity but demonstrate greater predictability of absorption values for classical peptide substrates (for which Caco-2 cells under-estimate oral absorption).

Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) is a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant commonly used as an ingredient in dosing vehicles for pre-clinical in vivo studies (e.g., pharmacokinetic studies, etc.). Tween 80 increased apical to basolateral permeability of digoxin in Caco-2 cells suggesting that Tween 80 is an in vitro inhibitor of P-gp. The overall objective of the present study was to investigate whether an inhibition of P-gp by Tween 80 can potentially influence in vivo absorption of P-gp substrates by evaluating the effect of Tween 80 on the disposition of digoxin (a model P-gp substrate with minimum metabolism) after oral administration in rats. Rats were dosed orally with digoxin (0.2 mg/kg) formulated in ethanol (40%, v/v) and saline mixture with and without Tween 80 (1 or 10%, v/v). Digoxin oral AUC increased 30 and 61% when dosed in 1% and 10% Tween 80, respectively, compared to control (P < 0.05). To further examine whether the increase in digoxin AUC after oral administration of Tween 80 is due, in part, to a systemic inhibition of digoxin excretion in addition to an inhibition of P-gp in the GI tract, a separate group of rats received digoxin intravenously (0.2 mg/kg) and Tween 80 (10% v/v) orally. No significant changes in digoxin IV AUC was noted when Tween 80 was administered orally. In conclusion, Tween 80 significantly increased digoxin AUC and Cmax after oral administration, and the increased AUC is likely to be due to an inhibition of P-gp in the gut (i.e., improved absorption). Therefore, Tween 80 is likely to improve systemic exposure of P-gp substrates after oral administration. Comparing AUC after oral administration with and without Tween 80 may be a viable strategy in evaluating whether oral absorption of P-gp substrates is potentially limited by P-gp in the gut.

In vivo clearance of BMS-182874 was primarily due to metabolism via stepwise N-demethylation. Despite in vivo clearance approached ca 50% of the total liver plasma flow, BMS-182874 was completely bioavailable after oral administration in rats. Saturable first-pass metabolism and the role of extrahepatic tissue were evaluated as possible reasons for complete oral bioavailability despite extensive metabolic clearance. Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained after an intravenous and a range of oral doses of BMS-182874 in rats. Bile and urine were collected from bile-duct cannulated (BDC) rats and the in vivo metabolic pathways of BMS-182874 were evaluated. Pharmacokinetics of BMS-182874 were also compared in nephrectomized (renally impaired) vs. sham-operated control rats. Oral bioavailability of BMS-182874 averaged 100%, indicating that BMS-182874 was completely absorbed and the first-pass metabolism (liver or intestine) was negligible. The AUC and Cmax values increased dose-proportionally, indicating kinetics were linear within the oral dose range of 13 to 290 mmole/kg. After intravenous administration of BMS-182874 to BDC rats, about 2% of intact BMS-182874 was recovered in excreta, indicating that BMS-182874 was cleared primarily via metabolism in vivo. The major metabolite circulating in plasma was the mono-N-desmethyl metabolite and the major metabolite recovered in excreta was the di-N-desmethyl metabolite. In vivo clearance of BMS-182874 was significantly reduced in nephrectomized rats. These observations suggest saturable first-pass metabolism is unlikely to be a mechanism for complete oral bioavailability of BMS-182874. Reduced clearance observed in the nephrectomized rats suggests that extrahepatic tissues (e.g., kidneys) may play an important role in the in vivo clearance of xenobiotics that are metabolized via N-demethylation.