Kinetics and dynamics of cyclosporine A in three hepatic cell culture systems.

In vitro experiments have a high potential to improve current chemical safety assessment and reduce the number of animals used. However, most studies conduct hazard assessment alone, largely ignoring exposure and kinetic parameters. Therefore, in this study the kinetics of cyclosporine A (CsA) and the dynamics of CsA-induced cyclophilin B (Cyp-B) secretion were investigated in three widely used hepatic in vitro models: primary rat hepatocytes (PRH), primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and HepaRG cells. Cells were exposed daily to CsA for up to 14 days. CsA in cells and culture media was quantified by LC-MS/MS and used for pharmacokinetic modeling. Cyp-B was quantified by western blot analysis in cells and media. All cell systems took up CsA rapidly from the medium after initial exposure and all showed a time- and concentration-dependent Cyp-B cellular depletion and extracellular secretion. Only in PRH an accumulation of CsA over 14 days repeated exposure was observed. Donor-specific effects in CsA clearance were observed in the PHH model and both PHH and HepaRG cells significantly metabolized CsA, with no bioaccumulation being observed after repeated exposure. The developed kinetic models are described in detail and show that all models under-predict the in vivo hepatic clearance of CsA, but to different extents with 27-, 24- and 2-fold for PRH, PHH and HepaRG cells, respectively. This study highlights the need for more attention to kinetics in in vitro studies.

Metabolism of fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr methyl ester, and the herbicide fluroxypyr methylheptyl ester. I: during percutaneous absorption through fresh rat and human skin in vitro.

Percutaneous absorption of pesticides is a major determinant for risk assessment. Furthermore, cutaneous metabolism plays a role in penetration of certain chemicals. Therefore, the aim of these studies was to determine the transdermal metabolism of three related compounds [the herbicide, fluroxypyr methylheptyl ester (FPMH), fluroxypyr methyl ester (FPM), and fluroxypyr (FP)] during penetration through human and rat skin in vitro. The data presented in this article show that both FPM and FPMH were completely metabolized during their passage through human and rat skin in vitro. The only metabolite produced was that of the hydrolysis product, FP, with no parent ester penetrating through the skin. The extent of FP formation within the skin was directly correlated to the degree of stratum corneum reservoir formation. The larger the stratum corneum reservoir, the lower the levels of FP recovered from within the skin. This suggests that as the ester partitioned out of the SC it was immediately hydrolyzed to FP, which could then pass freely through the remainder of the epidermis and dermis. Similar metabolic profiles were observed for the transdermal metabolism of FPM and FPMH in previously frozen rat skin, indicating the robust nature of the esterase enzymes involved. In conclusion, systemic exposure after skin contact with FPM or FPMH is likely to be to the acid metabolite, FP, only and not to the parent ester. In addition, the rate and extent of percutaneous absorption will be a major determinant of cutaneous metabolism.

Metabolism of fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr methyl ester, and the herbicide fluroxypyr methylheptyl ester. II: in rat skin homogenates.

Fluroxypyr methyl ester (FPM) and the herbicide fluroxypyr methylheptyl ester (FPMH) are completely hydrolyzed during penetration through human and rat skin in vitro to the acid metabolite, fluroxypyr (FP) (). This article presents additional studies to determine the enzyme kinetics (K(m) and V(max)) of this ester hydrolysis, using crude rat whole-skin homogenate. Both FPM and FPMH were extensively metabolized in rat skin homogenates to the acid metabolite, FP. In no instance were any other metabolites detected. FPM was essentially hydrolyzed completely within 1 h. In FPMH incubations, there was still parent ester present after 24 h at all concentrations tested. The kinetics of hydrolysis of the two esters were different: V(max) was approximately 3-fold greater for FPM than FPMH (1400 and 490 micromol FP/min/g of tissue, respectively); however, K(m) values were very similar, 251 and 256 microM, respectively. Preliminary inhibitory studies suggest that FPM and FPMH are hydrolyzed by a carboxylesterase, because this reaction was inhibited by bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Mercuric chloride (an inhibitor of A-esterase and arylesterase) and eserine (a cholinesterase inhibitor) had no inhibitory effect on the hydrolysis of FPM or FPMH. Taken together with the data presented by, it can be concluded that no parent ester will pass through the skin in vivo, only the metabolite, FP. Therefore, first pass metabolism will be complete before these compounds reach the systemic circulation.

In vivo bioavailability and metabolism of topical diclofenac lotion in human volunteers.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the rate and extent of transdermal absorption for systemic delivery of diclofenac from Pennsaid (Dimethaid Research, Inc.) topical lotion into the systemic circulation after the lotion was applied to human volunteers, in an open treatment, non-blinded, non-vehicle controlled study. In addition, the in vivo metabolism of this topical diclofenac lotion has also been studied. METHODS: Human volunteers were dosed with topical [14C]-diclofenac sodium 1.5% lotion on the knee for 24 h. Sequential time blood and urine samples were taken to determine pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and metabolism. RESULTS: Topical absorption was 6.6% of applied dose. Peak plasma 14C occurred at 30 h after dosing, and peak urinary 14C excretion was at 24-48 h. The urinary 14C excretion pattern exhibits more elimination towards 24 h and beyond, as opposed to early urinary 14C excretion. This suggests a continuous delivery of [14C]-diclofenac sodium from the lotion into and through skin which only ceased when the dosing site was washed. Skin surface residue at 24 h was 26 +/- 9.5% dose (remainder assumed lost to clothing and bedding). Extraction of metabolites from urine amounted to 7.4-22.7% in untreated urine, suggesting substantial diclofenac metabolism to more water soluble metabolites, probably conjugates, which could not be extracted by the method employed. Two Dimensional TLC analysis of untreated urine showed minimal or no diclofenac, again emphasizing the extensive in vivo metabolism of this drug. Treatment of the same urine samples with the enzymes sulfatase and beta-glucuronidase showed a substantial increase in the extractable material. Three spots were consistently present in each sample run, namely diclofenac, 3'hydroxy diclofenac and an intermediate polar metabolite (probably a hydroxylated metabolite). Therefore, there was significant sulfation and glucuronidation of both diclofenac and numerous hydroxy metabolites of diclofenac, but many of the metabolites/conjugates remain unidentified. CONCLUSIONS; There was a continuous delivery of diclofenac sodium from the lotion into and through the skin, which ceased after the dosing site was washed. The majority of the material excreted in the urine were conjugates of hydroxylated metabolites, and not the parent chemical, although further identification is required.

In vitro cutaneous disposition of a topical diclofenac lotion in human skin: effect of a multi-dose regimen.

PURPOSE: This study determines comparative bioavailability of diclofenac sodium lotion compared to an aqueous solution after topical application to viable human skin in vitro. In addition, the difference between a single dose and multiple doses (8 times) was also determined. METHODS: An in vitro flow-through diffusion cell system was employed, using radiolabelled diclofenac sodium. RESULTS: Multiple doses of lotion (2 microl/cm2 and 5 microl/cm2) delivered a total of 40.1 +/- 17.6 microg and 85.6 micro 41.4 microg diclofenac, respectively, at 48 h, compared to only 9.4 +/- 2.9 microg and 35.7 +/- 19.0 microg absorbed after topical application of diclofenac as an aqueous solution (P < 0.05). A single dose study showed no statistical difference between diclofenac delivered in lotion or an aqueous solution. Over 48 h the total absorption from lotion was 10.2 +/- 6.7 microg and 26.2 +/- 17.6 microg (2 microl/cm2 and 5 microl/cm2, respectively), compared to 8.3 +/- 1.5 microg and 12.5 +/- 5.7 microg from an aqueous solution. Both single doses of lotion and aqueous diclofenac showed decreased diclofenac absorption into the receptor fluid between 12 and 24 h. However, when applied multiple times, absorption from lotion was continually increasing up to 48 h. The total dose accountability ranged from 76.8 +/- 8.2% to 110.6 +/- 15. 1% of the applied dose. CONCLUSIONS: Diclofenac lotion exhibited enhanced diclofenac percutaneous absorption rate through human skin (mass, flux and partition coefficient) when applied a multiple number of times and this enhanced absorption was maintained over 48 h. This suggests that a constituent of the lotion (DMSO) will enhance human skin absorption of diclofenac when used in a multi-dose regimen, but not after a single dose.

Decontamination procedures after in vitro topical exposure of human and rat skin to 4,4'-methylenebis[2-chloroaniline] and 4,4'-methylenedianiline.

4,4'-Methylenebis[2-chloroaniline] (MbOCA) and 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA) are widely used industrial chemicals classified as suspect human carcinogens. There is considerable occupational skin exposure to these compounds, and consequently, it is important to establish an efficient washing procedure after skin contamination. Four washing solutions were studied (100% ethanol, 100% water, 1 and 10% (v/v) aqueous soap) using fresh human and male F344 rat skin in flow-through diffusion cells. All solutions were equally effective at removing MbOCA and MDA from the surface of human skin, with 21-47% of the applied dose removed at 72 hr. In contrast, with rat skin 100% water and 1% soap solution were significantly less (p < 0.05) effective than 10% soap solution and 100% ethanol at removing MbOCA and MDA. Washing the skin surface at 3 or 30 min significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the absorption of MbOCA and MDA into and through human and rat skin at 72 hr by two- to threefold, compared with control unwashed skin. Washing the skin after this critical time point did not significantly reduce the absorption. These studies suggest that MbOCA and MDA are rapidly absorbed from the skin surface into the skin. Therefore, in order to reduce systemic exposure, the skin must be washed within the first 30 min after contamination has occurred. For human skin, the choice of washing solution employed was not as critical as the time of washing. This is in contrast to the rat, where the higher concentration soap and ethanol solutions were more effective for skin decontamination.