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Renal tubular secretion mediated by organic anion transporters (OATs) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) is an important means of drug and toxin excretion. Unfortunately, there are no biomarkers to evaluate their function. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize an endogenous biomarker of the renal tubular OATs-MRP4 channel. Twenty-six uremic toxins were selected as candidate compounds, of which kynurenic acid was identified as a potential biomarker by assessing the protein-binding ratio and the uptake in OAT1-, OAT3-, and MRP4-overexpressing cell lines. OAT1/3 and MRP4 mediated the transcellular vectorial transport of kynurenic acid in vitro. Serum kynurenic acid concentration was dramatically increased in rats treated with a rat OAT1/3 (rOAT1/3) inhibitor and in rOAT1/3 double knockout (rOAT1/3−/−) rats, and the renal concentrations were markedly elevated by the rat MRP4 (rMRP4) inhibitor. Kynurenic acid was not filtered at the glomerulus (99% of albumin binding), and was specifically secreted in renal tubules through the OAT1/3-MRP4 channel with an appropriate affinity (Km) (496.7 μM and 382.2 μM for OAT1 and OAT3, respectively) and renal clearance half-life (t1/2) in vivo (3.7 ± 0.7 h). There is a strong correlation in area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve (AUC0–t) between cefmetazole and kynurenic acid, but not with creatinine, after inhibition of rOATs. In addition, the phase of increased kynurenic acid level is earlier than that of creatinine in acute kidney injury process. These results suggest that albumin-bound kynurenic acid is an appropriate endogenous biomarker for adjusting the dosage of drugs secreted by this channel or predicting kidney injury.

Renal tubular secretion mediated by organic anion transporters (OATs) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) is an important means of drug and toxin excretion. Unfortunately, there are no biomarkers to evaluate their function. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize an endogenous biomarker of the renal tubular OATs-MRP4 channel. Twenty-six uremic toxins were selected as candidate compounds, of which kynurenic acid was identified as a potential biomarker by assessing the protein-binding ratio and the uptake in OAT1-, OAT3-, and MRP4-overexpressing cell lines. OAT1/3 and MRP4 mediated the transcellular vectorial transport of kynurenic acid in vitro. Serum kynurenic acid concentration was dramatically increased in rats treated with a rat OAT1/3 (rOAT1/3) inhibitor and in rOAT1/3 double knockout (rOAT1/3−/−) rats, and the renal concentrations were markedly elevated by the rat MRP4 (rMRP4) inhibitor. Kynurenic acid was not filtered at the glomerulus (99% of albumin binding), and was specifically secreted in renal tubules through the OAT1/3-MRP4 channel with an appropriate affinity (K m) (496.7 μM and 382.2 μM for OAT1 and OAT3, respectively) and renal clearance half-life (t 1/2) in vivo (3.7 ± 0.7 h). There is a strong correlation in area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve (AUC 0– t) between cefmetazole and kynurenic acid, but not with creatinine, after inhibition of rOATs. In addition, the phase of increased kynurenic acid level is earlier than that of creatinine in acute kidney injury process. These results suggest that albumin-bound kynurenic acid is an appropriate endogenous biomarker for adjusting the dosage of drugs secreted by this channel or predicting kidney injury. [Display omitted] • A strategy of screening biomarker of renal tubular transport channels was proposed. • Kynurenic acid as a biomarker of OATs-MRP4 has a good specificity and sensitivity. • Kidney injury and drug excretion can be predicted via serum kynurenic acid level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of the theophylline-enoxacin interaction has been studied in six healthy subjects. Theophylline 250 mg was administered p.o., twice daily for 11 days in a sustained release dosage form. On the 4th day of treatment, blood samples were taken every 2 h and urine was collected over 1 dose interval. From Days 5 to 11 coated tablets of enoxacin 400 mg b.i.d. were coadministered. On Day 11 blood and urine were collected as on Day 4. The mean plasma theophylline concentration rose from 4.4 to 15.1 mg/l, corresponding to a 73.6% reduction in total clearance. The urinary excretion of unchanged theophylline increased from 12.7 to 35.3%, whereas the production of metabolites was reduced (1-demethylation 81.4%; 3-demethylation 83.1%, 8-hydroxylation 74.6%). The results indicate that the theophylline-enoxacin interaction may be due to inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 isozymes responsible for theophylline metabolism. Unexpectedly, the renal clearance of theophylline metabolites was found to be drastically reduced when enoxacin was coadministered. This led to unchanged or even to elevated plasma levels of the metabolites. The mechanism of this interaction is still to be elucidated, but it may be due to competition for renal tubular secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]