A rapid screening system to determine drug affinities for the intestinal dipeptide transporter 1: system characterisation

Microbiome-Metabolome Responses to a High-Grain Diet Associated with the Hind-Gut Health of Goats

Studies on the effect of a high-concentrate (HC) diet on the hindgut microbiota and metabolome of ruminants are rarely reported. We used 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rDNA genes and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to evaluate the effects of long-term feeding (HL) or short-term (HS) feeding of an HC diet on changes in bacterial microbiota and their metabolites in the hindgut, with Guanzhong goat as a ruminant model. Results indicated that an HC diet decreased bacterial diversity and induced metabolic disorder in the hindgut. The levels of lactate, endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), and volatile fatty acid concentrations were higher in the intestinal digesta of the HC goats than in those of the LC goats (P < 0.05). The level of beta-alanine decreased, whereas the levels of stigmasterol and quinic acid decreased in the cecal and colonic digesta of the HC goats. At the genus level, the abundance of Clostridium and Turicibacter was significantly increased in both the colonic and cecal digesta of the HC goats. Several potential relationships between metabolites and several microbial species were revealed in this study. The mRNA expression of the genes functionally associated with nutrients transport, including NHE2, NHE3, MCT1, and MCT4 were significantly downregulated in the colonic mucosa by the HC diet (P < 0.05). The expression levels of the genes related to the inflammatory response, including TLR4, MYD88, TNF-α, and IL-1β were markedly upregulated in the cecal mucosa by the HC diet (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that an HC diet induces microbiota dysbiosis, metabolic disorders, and mucosal damage in the hindgut of goats.

The effect of cephalexin in influencing the pharmacokinetics of a novel drug - 5'-valyl-cytarabine hydrochloride

The aim of this study is to investigate the pharmacokinetics of 5′-valyl-cytarabine hydrochloride (OPC) when co-administered with cephalexin, which are both the substrates of PepT1. The drugs were administered orally by gavage. Blood samples were collected from the orbital plexus of the rats after oral administration of drug solutions. A new high-performance liquid chromatographic method was validated and used for determination of the two drugs. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using DAS 2.1.1 software with noncompartmental analysis. After oral administration of OPC and co-administration of OPC and cephalexin, there were significant differences in the main pharmacokinetic parameters. The main pharmacokinetic parameters for the OPC group and the co-administrative group were as follows: AUC_0-10 (18,168.7 ± 2561.4) ng⋅h/ml and (13,448.5 ± 2544.73) ng⋅h/ml, AUC_0-∞ (18,683.1 ± 3066.5) ng⋅h/ml and (13,721.1 ± 2683.0) ng⋅h/ml, C_max (6654.8 ± 481.3) ng/ml and (4765.1 ± 928.9) ng/ml, respectively. The results showed that the bioavailability of OPC could be reduced when co-administered with cephalexin, suggesting that the efficacy of a novel drug might be reduced when it came to combination use of β-lactam antibiotics.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of enalapril and its active metabolite, enalaprilat, at four different doses in healthy horses

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic of IV enalapril at 0.50 mg/kg, PO placebo and PO enalapril at three different doses (0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mg/kg) were analyzed in 7 healthy horses. Serum concentrations of enalapril and enalaprilat were determined for pharmacokinetic analysis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, serum ureic nitrogen (SUN), creatinine and electrolytes were measured, and blood pressure was monitored for pharmacodynamic analysis. The elimination half-lives of enalapril and enalaprilat were 0.67 and 2.76 h respectively after IV enalapril. Enalapril concentrations after PO administrations were below the limit of quantification (10 ng/ml) in all horses and enalaprilat concentrations were below the limit of quantification in 4 of the 7 horses. Maximum mean ACE inhibitions from baseline were 88.38, 3.24, 21.69, 26.11 and 30.19% for IV enalapril at 0.50 mg/kg, placebo and PO enalapril at 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mg/kg, respectively. Blood pressures, SUN, creatinine and electrolytes remained unchanged during the experiments.

Effect of betamethasone and diclofenac sodium on serum and tissue concentration of amoxicillin. In vivo study in rats

Objective:

Antimicrobial agents in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs have been usually prescribed in both Medicine and Dentistry. However, few scientific reports support this clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of betamethasone and diclofenac sodium on serum and tissue concentration of amoxicillin in rats.

Methods:

Four polyurethane sponges were implanted in the back skin of 48 rats. After seven days the animals were divided into 6 groups (n=8). Group 1: amoxicillin (25 mg/kg); G2: diclofenac sodium (2.5 mg/kg); G3: betamethasone (0.1 mg/kg); G4: diclofenac sodium and amoxicillin; G5: betamethasone and amoxicillin; and G6: 0.9% sodium chloride solution (1.0 mL - control group). All drugs were administered in a single dose. After 90 minutes, the granulomatous tissues of each animal were surgically removed and weighed. Blood was collected from cervical plexus, centrifuged and 10μL of serum was placed on paper discs. In order to estimate amoxicillin concentration, serum and granulomatous tissues were separately submitted to microbiological assay, which used 10⁸cfu/mL of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (penicillin-susceptible strain). After incubation (18 hours, 37°C) the inhibition zones were measured and compared to a regression curve.

Results:

No inhibition zones were observed for groups 2, 3 and 6. Tissue and serum concentrations of both G1 (4.14μg/g and 2.06μg/mL, respectively) and G5 (3.87μg/g and 1.70μg/mL, respectively) showed statistically significant differences (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.05) in comparison to G4 (1.45μg/g and 0.41μg/mL, respectively). G1 and G5 did not differ significantly (p>0.05).

Conclusion:

Considering single doses, betamethasone did not interfere with amoxicillin levels but diclofenac sodium reduced both tissue and serum levels of amoxicillin in rats.

Quantitative evaluation of PEPT1 contribution to oral absorption of cephalexin in rats

PURPOSE

PEPT1 mediates the intestinal absorption of many drugs, but its contribution to oral absorption of drugs is still controversial. The objective of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the contribution of PEPT1 to oral absorption of cephalexin, a typical substrate for PEPT1, in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The absorbability of cephalexin via PEPT1 or passive diffusion was assessed in five intestinal segments by utilizing glycyl-proline as a competitive inhibitor by in-situ closed loop method. Absorption kinetics of cephalexin after oral administration was predicted by GI-Transit-Absorption model.

RESULTS

Absorbability of cephalexin was segment-dependent, and concentration-dependent in all the segments except for the lower ileum. Intrinsic absorption rate constant via PEPT1 ranged from 0.64 to 4.07 h(-1). The absorption rate constants via passive diffusion ranged from 0.78 to 1.24 h(-1). Plasma concentration-time profile of cephalexin was successfully predicted and the substantial contribution of PEPT1 to the oral absorption was calculated to be from 46% to 60% of total absorption. Simulation study indicated that 83% bioavailability would be expected for cephalexin even though PEPT1 does not function.

CONCLUSIONS

PEPT1 substantially contributes to oral absorption of cephalexin, around a half of total absorption. However, the function of PEPT1 can be compensated by passive diffusion for cephalexin.

Effects of Capsaicin on Intestinal Cephalexin Absorption in Rats

The effects of capsaicin on intestinal cephalexin absorption were investigated by means of in situ single pass perfusion in rats to clarify whether this pungent compound present in spice is a potential factor altering the intestinal drug absorption processes. Under the control condition, cephalexin was absorbed at a rate of 1.16+/-0.08 and 0.90+/-0.06 nmol/min/cm in the jejunum and ileum, respectively. The intestinal cephalexin absorption rate was decreased when capsaicin was dissolved in the perfusate at a concentration of 400 microM, being 0.54+/-0.07 and 0.46+/-0.10 nmol/min/cm in the jejunum and ileum, respectively. The inhibitive effect of capsaicin on intestinal cephalexin absorption was diminished when ruthenium red, a non-selective inhibitor of the transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels, was intravenously infused into the rat during the experiment. Moreover, when we evaluated the paracellular permeability of cephalexin by utilizing a competitive inhibitor, glycylsarcosine, it was demonstrated that glycylsarcosine-insensitive intestinal cephalexin absorption in the jejunum was increased by 4.5 times in the presence of 400 microM capsaicin. These findings indicate that capsaicin affects both transcellular and paracellular pathways of intestinal cephalexin absorption by interacting with the TRP cation channels in intestinal tissues, in which capsaicin seems to change the transport activity of H+/peptide co-transporter 1 (PEPT1), and to a lesser degree, it seems to alter the paracellular permeability of the intestinal epithelia.

Effect of sodium diclofenac on serum and tissue concentration of amoxicillin and on staphylococcal infection

The effect of sodium diclofenac on serum and tissue amoxicillin concentration as well as their effect against staphylococcal infection was observed. Four polyurethane sponges were placed in the back of thirty rats. After 14 d, two granulomatous tissues received 0.5 ml of 10(8) cfu/ml (Staphylococcus aureus). Two days later, the rats were divided into five groups: group 1 received amoxicillin 50 mg/kg/p.o., group 2 received amoxicillin 25 mg/kg/p.o., group 3 received sodium diclofenac 2.5 mg/kg/i.m. and amoxicillin 50 mg/kg/p.o., group 4 received sodium diclofenac 2.5 mg/kg/i.m., and group 5 (control group) received NaCl 1 ml/p.o. After six hours of drug administration, blood serum (10 microl) and noninfected granulomatous tissues were placed on Mueller-Hinton agar inoculated with 10(8) cfu/ml (S. aureus). Infected tissues were dispersed in a sonic system and were spread (10 microl) on salt mannitol agar. Microorganisms were counted and the inhibition zones were measured after 18 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. Amoxicillin tissue concentration was 6.27 microg/g for group 1, 2.18 microg/g for group 2, and 0.72 microg/g for group 3. The serum concentrations were 11.56 microg/ml for group 1, 5.36 microg/ml for group 2, and 1.34 microg/ml for group 3. No differences were observed among group 1, 2, and 3 regarding staphylococci counts (Kruskall-Wallis test p>0.05). Group 4 reduced (p<0.05) staphylococci counts comparing to group 5. It was concluded that sodium diclofenac reduced serum and tissue amoxicillin concentration and, even in large doses, amoxicillin was not effective in eradicating the staphylococcal infection after 6 h of administration.

Studies on the transport of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogues in Caco-2 cell monolayers

The transport mechanisms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and its pharmacologically active analogues ((3-methyl-His(2))TRH (MeTRH), taltirelin, montirelin, azetirelin) across Caco-2 cell monolayers were characterized. The results of kinetic analysis showed a linear relationship between the concentration (over the range 0.5-10 mM) and apical-to-basolateral transport rate of these agents. The permeability coefficients (P(app)) of these agents were not substantially different from each other, and their P(app) ratios of the basolateral-to-apical over the apical-to-basolateral transport were close to one (0.73-1.23). The cellular transport of [(3)H]MeTRH at low concentrations (3-15 nM) showed a linear relationship between the concentration and transport rate. The transport of [(3)H]MeTRH in Caco-2 cell monolayers was neither affected by TRH nor TRH analogues, and there was little difference in P(app) values between [(3)H]MeTRH and [(14)C]mannitol. The cell-per-medium ratio of [(3)H]MeTRH in the cellular uptake experiment was similar to the value of [14C]mannitol. A large excess of TRH and MeTRH did not significantly influence cell-per-medium ratios of [(3)H]MeTRH in Caco-2 cell monolayers. The k'(IAM) value, which represents lipophilicity, was decreased in the following order: montirelin > taltirelin > TRH > azetirelin, and the values varied from 0.234 to 1.028. These results indicate that a paracellular passive diffusion may be the major route for the transport of TRH and its analogues in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Comparison of bidirectional cephalexin transport across MDCK and caco-2 cell monolayers: interactions with peptide transporters

PURPOSE

Bidirectional transport studies were conducted to determine whether Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell monolayers could be used as an alternative to the traditional Caco-2 assay as a fast-growing in vitro model of peptide transport.

METHODS

Transport of cephalexin and glycylsarcosine across MDCK and Caco-2 cell monolayers was quantified using LC-LC/MS. Glycylsarcosine, p-aminohippuric acid (PAH), and tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) were tested as inhibitors of cephalexin transport.

RESULTS

The ratio of apparent cephalexin permeabilities (apical to basolateral/basolateral to apical) obtained from MDCK monolayers was almost 5-fold greater than that obtained from Caco-2 monolayers. The opposite trend was observed for glycylsarcosine. When MDCK monolayers were used, glycylsarcosine reduced the cephalexin/apparent permeability ratio almost 90%. PAH and TEA did not inhibit cephalexin transport across MDCK or Caco-2 cell monolayers.

CONCLUSION

MDCK cell monolayers may be a promising, fast-growing alternative to Caco-2 cells for identifying peptide transporter substrates. However, differences in the apical-to-basolateral transport of cephalexin and glycylsarcosine suggest that the basolateral transport mechanisms for these compounds are different in the two cell lines. Additionally, because the activity of the peptide transporter in MDCK cells was low, scaling factors may be required when using this cell line to predict in vivo drug absorption.

A rapid screening system to determine drug affinities for the intestinal dipeptide transporter 2: affinities of ACE inhibitors

PURPOSE

To assess the affinities of a series of ACE inhibitors for the di/tri/oligopeptide transport system (DTS) using a rapid in vitro system.

METHODS

Monolayers of Caco-2 cells were cultured in plastic wells for 7-9 days and the uptake of Gly-[3H]L-Pro was used as an affinity probe. Gly-[3H]L-Pro (50 nM), together with excess L-Pro (10 mM), to suppress uptake of any [3H]L-Pro produced by degradation of the probe, was incubated with the test compound (usually 1 mM) at pH 6 for 3-mins. The uptake of radiolabel was determined by liquid scintillation counting.

RESULTS

A 2-dimensional six-domain model of the transporter based on the structure of a phosphinate ACE inhibitor (SQ-29852) was constructed to facilitate interpretation of the competitor affinities. The SQ-29852 molecule was divided into six binding domains (A-F) based on functional groups within these regions and the effects of structural variation in four of these domains (A, C-E) were explored. A series of dipeptide-like compounds varying within specific domains were selected from a large number of commercially available ACE inhibitors and SQ-29852 analogues. Domain A had a preference for an uncharged group, with bulky hydrophobic groups reducing affinity. Domain C exhibited a preference for a positive charge over a neutral function, with the space this functional group occupies contributing to affinity. Domain D favoured lipophilic residues and domain E retained activity when the carboxylic acid was esterified.

CONCLUSION

The test system is able to reveal structure-activity relationships of peptidomimetic agents and may well serve as a design tool to optimise affinity for the DTS.