Kwon-Bok Kim

Contribution of cytochrome P450 3A4 and 3A5 to the metabolism of atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor that is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. A recent study showed that the lipid-lowering effect of statins is affected by the CYP3A5 polymorphism. Therefore, it was investigated whether CYP3A5 contributes to the metabolism of atorvastatin. Two metabolites of atorvastatin, para- and ortho-hydroxyatorvastatin, were produced by human liver microsomes and human recombinant CYP3A enzymes, and the enzyme kinetic pattern exhibited substrate inhibition. The intrinsic clearance (CLint) rates of para- and ortho-hydroxyatorvastatin by CYP3A4 were 2.4- and 5.0-fold of the respective CLint rates of CYP3A5, indicating that CYP3A4 is the major P450 isoform responsible for atorvastatin metabolism. These results suggest that atorvastatin is preferentially metabolized by CYP3A4 rather than by CYP3A5, and thus the genetic CYP3A5 polymorphism might not be an important factor in the inter-individual variation of atorvastatin disposition and pharmacodynamics in human.

LC–MS/MS for the simultaneous analysis of arachidonic acid and 32 related metabolites in human plasma: Basal plasma concentrations and aspirin-induced changes of eicosanoids

Eicosanoids play an important role in various biological responses and can be used as biomarkers for specific diseases. Therefore, we developed a highly selective, sensitive, and robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method to measure arachidonic acid and its 32 metabolites in human plasma. Sample preparation involved solid phase extraction, which efficiently removed sources of interference present in human plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed using a Luna C(8)-column with 0.5mM ammonium formate buffer and acetonitrile as the mobile phase under gradient conditions. Detection was performed using tandem mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray ionization interface in negative ion mode. The matrix did not affect the reproducibility and reliability of the assay. All analytes showed good linearity over the investigated concentration range (r>0.997). The validated lower limit of quantitation for the analytes ranged from 10 to 400pg/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision (RDS%) over the concentration ranges for all eicosanoids were within 16.8%, and accuracy ranged between 88.1 and 108.2%. This assay was suitable for the determination of basal plasma levels of eicosanoids and the evaluation of effect of aspirin on eicosanoid plasma levels in healthy subjects.

Simple and accurate quantitative analysis of ten antiepileptic drugs in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, accurate, and sensitive liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of 10 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; gabapentin (GBP), levetiracetam (LEV), valproic acid (VPA), lamotrigine (LTG), carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-epoxide), zonisamide (ZNS), oxcarbazepine (OXC), topiramate (TPM), carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT)) in human plasma as a tool for drug monitoring. d(10)-Phenytoin (d(10)-PHT) and d(6-)valproic acid (d(6)-VPA) were used as internal standards for the positive- and negative-ionization modes, respectively. Plasma samples were precipitated by the addition of acetonitrile, and supernatants were analyzed on a C18 reverse-phase column using an isocratic elution. Detection was carried out in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The calibration curves were linear over a 50-fold concentration range, with correlation coefficients (r(2)) greater than 0.997 for all AEDs. The intra- and inter-day precision was less than 12%, and the accuracy was between 85.9 and 114.5%. This method was successfully used in the identification and quantitation of AEDs in patients undergoing mono- or polytherapy for epilepsy.

Identification and characterization of potent CYP2B6 inhibitors in Woohwangcheongsimwon suspension, an herbal preparation used in the treatment and prevention of apoplexy in Korea and China

Woohwangcheongsimwon is a traditional medicine for treating hypertension, arteriosclerosis, coma, and stroke in China and Korea. To assess potential interactions of herb and drug metabolism, commercially available Woohwangcheongsimwon suspensions were examined for their potential to inhibit the activity of nine human cytochrome P450 enzymes. The Woohwangcheongsimwon suspensions showed strong inhibition of CYP2B6 activity. To identify individual constituents with inhibitory activity, the suspension was partitioned using hexane, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane, and each fraction was tested for its inhibitory effect on CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylation. The hexane fraction possessed inhibitory activity, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis identified borneol and isoborneol as major constituents of the hexane fraction. These two terpenoids moderately inhibited CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylase activity in a competitive manner, with Ki values of 9.5 and 5.9 μM, respectively, as well as efavirenz 8-hydroxylase activity, with Ki values of 22 and 26 μM, respectively. Additionally, reconstituted mixtures of borneol and isoborneol, at the same concentrations as in the Woohwangcheongsimwon suspension, had comparable potency in inhibiting bupropion hydroxylation. These in vitro data indicate that Woohwangcheongsimwon preparations contain constituents that can potently inhibit the activity of CYP2B6 and suggest that these preparations should be examined for potential pharmacokinetic drug interactions in vivo.

Characterization of Benidipine and Its Enantiomers' Metabolism by Human Liver Cytochrome P450 Enzymes

Benidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that has been used clinically as an antihypertensive and antianginal agent. It is used clinically as a racemate, containing the (-)-α and (+)-α isomers of benidipine. This study was performed to elucidate the metabolism of benidipine and its enantiomers in human liver microsomes (HLMs) and to characterize the cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of benidipine. Human liver microsomal incubation of benidipine in the presence of NADPH resulted in the formation of two metabolites, N-desbenzylbenidipine and dehydrobenidipine. The intrinsic clearance (CLint) of the formation of N-desbenzylbenidipine and dehydrobenidipine metabolites from (-)-α isomer was similar to those from the (+)-α isomer (1.9 ± 0.1 versus 2.3 ± 2.3 μl/min/pmol P450 and 0.5 ± 0.2 versus 0.6 ± 0.6 μl/min/pmol P450, respectively). Correlation analysis between the known P450 enzyme activities and the rate of the formation of benidipine metabolites in the 15 HLMs showed that benidipine metabolism is correlated with CYP3A activity. The P450 isoform-selective inhibition study in liver microsomes and the incubation study of cDNA-expressed enzymes also showed that theN-debenzylation and dehydrogenation of benidipine are mainly mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. The total CLint values of CYP3A4-mediated metabolite formation from (-)-α isomer were similar to those from (+)-α isomer (17.7 versus 14.4 μl/min/pmol P450, respectively). The total CLint values of CYP3A5-mediated metabolite formation from (-)-α isomer were also similar to those from (+)-α isomer (8.3 versus 11.0 μl/min/pmol P450, respectively). These findings suggest that CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 isoforms are major enzymes contributing to the disposition of benidipine, but stereoselective disposition of benidipine in vivo may be influenced not by stereoselective metabolism but by other factors.

Ilaprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor, is primarily metabolized to ilaprazole sulfone by CYP3A4 and 3A5

Ilaprazole is a new proton pump inhibitor, designed for treatment of gastric ulcers, and developed by Il-Yang Pharmaceutical Co (Seoul, Korea). It is extensively metabolised to the major metabolite ilaprazole sulfone. In the present study, several in vitro approaches were used to identify the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes responsible for ilaprazole sulfone formation. Concentrations of ilaprazole sulfone were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Incubation of ilaprazole with cDNA-expressed recombinant CYPs indicated that CYP3A was the major enzyme that catalyses ilaprozole to ilaprazole sulfone. This reaction was inhibited significantly by ketoconazole, a CYP3A inhibitor, and azamulin, a mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP3A, while no substantial effect was observed using selective inhibitors for eight other P450s (CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1). In addition, the formation of ilaprazole sulfone correlated well with CYP3A-catalysed testosterone 6β-hydroxylation and midazolam 1′-hydroxylation in 20 different human liver microsome panels. The intrinsic clearance of the formation of ilaprazole sulfone by CYP3A4 was 16-fold higher than that by CYP3A5. Collectively, these results indicate that the formation of the major metabolite of ilaprazole, ilaprazole sulfone, is predominantly catalysed by CYP3A4/5.

In vitro metabolism of KBH-A40, a novel δ-lactam-based histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, in human liver microsomes and serum

1. The metabolism of KBH-A40, a novel δ-lactam-based histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was investigated in vitro using human liver microsomes and serum. After 60-min incubation in human liver microsomes with β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) or uridine diphosphate glucuronic acid (UDPGA), the residual KBH-A40 was 90.6% ± 5.1% and 28.9% ± 2.0% (t1/2 = 26 min), respectively, suggesting that KBH-A40 is likely predominantly metabolized by glucuronidation, rather than by cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated oxidation. Consistently, KBH-A40 glucuronide was the only metabolite identified following incubations of KBH-A40 with human liver microsomes in the presence of both NADPH and UDPGA. 2. KBH-A40 was not notably degraded when incubated with human serum for 60 min. In contrast, KBH-A40 was rapidly hydrolysed to its carboxylic acid form in rat serum (t1/2 = 13 min). 3. Taken collectively, the results suggest that KBH-A40 is likely metabolized in man predominantly by glucuronidation of its hydroxamic acid moiety, with negligible biotransformation elsewhere in the molecule.

Simultaneous quantification of rosiglitazone and its two major metabolites, N-desmethyl and p-hydroxy rosiglitazone in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetic study.

We present a simple, rapid, and sensitive liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of rosiglitazone and its two major metabolites via CYP2C8/9, N-desmethyl and p-hydroxy rosiglitazone, in human plasma. The procedure was developed and validated using rosiglitazone-d(3) as the internal standard. Plasma samples (0.1 ml) were prepared using a simple deproteinization procedure with 0.2 ml of acetonitrile containing 40 ng/ml of rosiglitazone-d(3). Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Luna C18 column (100 mm x 2.0 mm, 3-microm particle size) using an isocratic mobile phase consisting of a 60:40 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid((aq)). Each sample was run at 0.2 ml/min for a total run time of 2.5 min per sample. Detection and quantification were performed using a mass spectrometer in selected reaction-monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization at m/z 358.1-->135.1 for rosiglitazone, m/z 344.2-->121.1 for N-desmethyl rosiglitazone, m/z 374.1-->151.1 for p-hydroxy rosiglitazone, and m/z 361.1-->138.1 for rosiglitazone-d(3). The linear ranges of concentration for rosiglitazone, N-desmethyl rosiglitazone, and p-hydroxy rosiglitazone were 1-500, 1-150, and 1-25 ng/ml, respectively, with a lower limit of quantification of 1 ng/ml for all analytes. The coefficient of variation for assay precision was less than 14.4%, and the accuracy was 93.3-112.3%. No relevant cross-talk and matrix effect were observed. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of a 4-mg rosiglitazone tablet to healthy male Korean volunteers.

In vitro metabolism of a novel PPARγ agonist, KR-62980, and its stereoisomer, KR-63198, in human liver microsomes and by recombinant cytochrome P450s

1. KR-62980 and its stereoisomer KR-63198 are novel and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) modulators with activity profiles different from that of rosiglitazone. This study was performed to identify the major metabolic pathways for KR-62980 and KR-63198 in human liver microsomes. 2. Human liver microsomal incubation of KR-62980 and KR-63198 in the presence of a β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-generating system resulted in hydroxy metabolite formation. In addition, the specific cytochrome P450s (CYPs) responsible for KR-62980 and KR-63198 hydroxylation were identified by using a combination of chemical inhibition in human liver microsomes and metabolism by recombinant P450s. It is shown that CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 are the predominant enzymes in the hydroxylation of KR-62980 and KR-63198. 3. The intrinsic clearance through hydroxylation was consistently and significantly higher for KR-62980 than for KR-63198, indicating metabolic stereoselectivity (CLint of 0.012 ± 0.001 versus 0.004 ± 0.001 μl min−1 pmol−1 P450, respectively). 4. In a drug–drug interaction study, KR-62980 and KR-63198 had no effect on the activities of the P450s tested (IC50 > 50 μM), suggesting that in clinical interactions between KR-62980 and KR-63198 the P450s tested would not be expected.

Transport and metabolism of the antitumour drug candidate 2'-benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde in Caco-2 cells.

The transport and metabolism of the antitumour drug candidate 2′-benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde (BCA) was characterized in Caco-2 cells. BCA disappeared rapidly from the donor side without being transported to the receiver side during its absorptive transport across Caco-2 cells. Its metabolites 2′-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) and o-coumaric acid (OCA) were formed in both the donor and the receiver sides. HCA, in a separate study, also disappeared rapidly from the donor side, mostly being converted to its oxidative metabolite OCA during its absorptive transport across Caco-2 cells. OCA was transported rapidly in the absorptive direction across Caco-2 cells with a Papp of 25.4 ± 1.0 × 10−6 cm s−1 (mean ± standard deviation (SD), n = 3). OCA was fully recovered from both the donor and the receiver side throughout the time-course of this study. Formation of HCA from BCA was inhibited almost completely by bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP), a selective inhibitor of carboxylesterases (CES), and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), a broad specificity inhibitor of esterases in Caco-2 cells, suggesting that this hydrolytic biotransformation was likely mediated predominantly by CES. Conversion of HCA to OCA was inhibited significantly by isovanillin, a selective inhibitor of aldehyde oxidase (AO). Inhibitors for xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which are known to be involved in the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids, did not have a significant effect on the biotransformation of HCA to OCA in Caco-2 cells. In summary, the present work demonstrates that BCA is hydrolysed rapidly to HCA, followed by subsequent oxidation to OCA, in Caco-2 cells. The results provide a mechanistic understanding of the poor absorption and low bioavailability of BCA after oral administration.