Splenic gene delivery system using self-assembling nano-complex with phosphatidylserine analog.

The recognition of phosphatidylserine on the erythrocyte membrane mediates erythrophagocytosis by resident spleen macrophages. The application of phosphatidylserine to a gene vector may be a novel approach for splenic drug delivery. Therefore, we chose 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serin (DOPS) as an analogue of phosphatidylserine for splenic gene delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA). In the present study, we successfully prepared a stable pDNA ternary complex using DOPS and polyethyleneimine (PEI) and evaluated its efficacy and safety. The pDNA/PEI complex had a positive charge and showed high transgene efficacy, although it caused cytotoxicity and agglutination. The addition of DOPS changed the ζ-potential of the pDNA/PEI complex to negative. It is known that anionic complexes are not taken up well by cells. Surprisingly, however, the pDNA/PEI/DOPS complex showed relatively high transgene efficacy in vitro. Fluorescence microscope observation revealed that the pDNA/PEI/DOPS complex internalized the cells while maintaining the complex formation. The injection of the pDNA/PEI complex killed most mice within 24 h at high doses, although all mice in the pDNA/PEI/DOPS complex group survived. The ternary complex with DOPS showed markedly better safety compared with the pDNA/PEI complex. The pDNA/PEI/DOPS complex showed high gene expression selectively in the spleen after intravenous injection into mice. Thus the ternary complex with DOPS can be used to deliver pDNA to the spleen, in which immune cells are abundant. It appears to have an excellent safety level, although further study to determine the mechanism of action is necessary.

Quaternary complexes modified from pDNA and poly-l-lysine complexes to enhance pH-buffering effect and suppress cytotoxicity.

We developed a modified complex of pDNA and poly-l-lysine (PLL) by the addition of poly-l-histidine (PLH) and γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) to enhance its pH-buffering effect and suppress cytotoxicity. The binary and ternary complexes of pDNA with PLL or/and PLH showed particle sizes of approximately 52-76 nm with cationic surface charge. The ternary complexes showed much higher gene expression than the binary complexes with PLL. The mixed solution of PLL and PLH showed higher buffering capacity than PLL solution. The high gene expression of ternary complexes was reduced by bafilomycin A1 . These results indicated the addition of PLH to PLL complexes promoted endosomal escape by enhancing the pH-buffering effect. The binary and ternary complexes showed cytotoxicity and blood agglutination because of their cationic surface charge. We therefore developed quaternary complexes by the addition of anionic γ-PGA, which was reported to decrease the toxicity of cationic complexes. In fact, quaternary complexes showed no cytotoxicity and blood agglutination. Also, quaternary complexes showed higher gene expression than ternary complexes regardless of their anionic surface charge. Quaternary complexes showed selectively high gene expression in the spleen after their intravenous administration. Thus, we successfully developed the quaternary complexes with high gene expression and no toxicity.

Secure and effective gene delivery system of plasmid DNA coated by polynucleotide.

Polynucleotides are anionic macromolecules which are expected to transfer into the targeted cells through specific uptake mechanisms. So, we developed polynucleotides coating complexes of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) for a secure and efficient gene delivery system and evaluated their usefulness. Polyadenylic acid (polyA), polyuridylic acid (polyU), polycytidylic acid (polyC), and polyguanylic acid (polyG) were examined as the coating materials. pDNA/PEI/polyA, pDNA/PEI/polyU, and pDNA/PEI/polyC complexes formed nanoparticles with a negative surface charge although pDNA/PEI/polyG was aggregated. The pDNA/PEI/polyC complex showed high transgene efficiency in B16-F10 cells although there was little efficiency in pDNA/PEI/polyA and pDNA/PEI/polyU complexes. An inhibition study strongly indicated the specific uptake mechanism of pDNA/PEI/polyC complex. Polynucleotide coating complexes had lower cytotoxicity than pDNA/PEI complex. The pDNA/PEI/polyC complex showed high gene expression selectively in the spleen after intravenous injection into mice. The pDNA/PEI/polyC complex showed no agglutination with erythrocytes and no acute toxicity although these were observed in pDNA/PEI complex. Thus, we developed polynucleotide coating complexes as novel vectors for clinical gene therapy, and the pDNA/PEI/polyC complex as a useful candidate for a gene delivery system.

Biodegradable nanoparticles composed of dendrigraft poly-L-lysine for gene delivery.

We developed novel gene vectors composed of dendrigraft poly-L-lysine (DGL). The transgene expression efficiency of the pDNA/DGL complexes (DGL complexes) was markedly higher than that of the control pDNA/poly-L-lysine complex. However, the DGL complexes caused cytotoxicity and erythrocyte agglutination at high doses. Therefore, γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA), which is a biodegradable anionic polymer, was added to the DGL complexes to decrease their toxicity. The resultant ternary complexes (DGL/γ-PGA complexes) were shown to be stable nanoparticles, and those with γ-PGA to pDNA charge ratios of >8 had anionic surface charges. The transgene expression efficiency of the DGL/γ-PGA complexes was similar to that of the DGL complexes; however, they exhibited lower cytotoxicity and did not induce erythrocyte agglutination at high doses. After being intravenously administered to mice, the DGL6 complex demonstrated high transfection efficiency in the liver, lungs, and spleen, whereas the DGL6/γ-PGA8 complex only displayed high transfection efficiency in the spleen. Future studies should examine the utility of DGL and DGL/γ-PGA complexes for clinical gene therapy.

Food-drug interaction of tacrolimus with pomelo, ginger, and turmeric juice in rats.

Tacrolimus is a well-known potent immunosuppressant agent, which has various drug-drug or food-drug interactions. Previously, we found a renal transplant recipient who increased tacrolimus blood concentrations after ingestion of pomelo as a rare case. So, we investigated the effect of pomelo after its administration for one day or 3 consecutive days on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus in rats. We also confirmed the effects of grapefruit, turmeric, and ginger. The tacrolimus blood concentrations of the rats pre-treated with 100% pomelo juice were significantly higher than those pre-treated with water. On the other hand, the tacrolimus blood concentrations of the rats pre-treated with 50% pomelo juice were not significantly different from those pre-treated with water. The pomelo-tacrolimus interaction showed concentration dependency. Even low concentration of pomelo juice could enhance the blood concentrations of tacrolimus by repeated administration. The inhibitory effect of 100% pomelo juice disappeared 3 days after intake. The AUC values of tacrolimus in the rats pre-treated with grapefruit juice, ginger juice, and turmeric juice were significantly larger than those pre-treated with water. We could confirm the pomelo-tacrolimus interaction, which we discovered in a case study, quantitatively. We newly found the influence of turmeric and ginger on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics, comparable to pomelo.

[Investigation for proper use of probiotics in Nagasaki University Hospital of Medicine and Dentistry].

Antimicrobial agents sometimes cause the adverse effects of diarrhea and loose stool. Antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria are used to prevent these adverse effects. The bacteria are not resistant to several antimicrobial agents, although the bacterium preparations are sometimes prescribed the antimicrobial agents concomitantly. Therefore this paper reports that the minimal inhibitory concentration of three new antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria were determined using a microdilution method with cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth. Furthermore, we investigated antimicrobial agents that are prescribed concomitantly with antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacterium preparations or a clostridium butyricum preparation. The bacteria were susceptible to the three new antimicrobial agents. Approximately 50% of the bacterium preparations were prescribed alone, and 30% were prescribed concomitantly with antimicrobial agents that show antimicrobial activity against the bacteria. Consequently, we suggest that pharmacists need to confirm prescriptions and to provide more drug information on antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacterium preparations.

Inhibitory effects of pomelo on the metabolism of tacrolimus and the activities of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein.

We recently reported a case of increase in the blood level of tacrolimus following intake of pomelo in a renal transplant recipient. To clarify the mechanism of this increase in the blood level of tacrolimus, we investigated the effect of pomelo juice extract on the activities of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, in comparison with that of extract of grapefruit juice (GFJ). The 10% ethyl acetate extracts of the juice of three pomelos of different origins (Banpeiyu, pomelo I; Hirado Buntan, pomelo II; and Tosa Buntan, pomelo III) and GFJ significantly inhibited 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone in human liver microsomes by 76.4, 67.2, 37.5, and 83.9%, respectively. The extract of pomelo I was as potent as that of GFJ. The metabolism of tacrolimus itself was also inhibited by the extract of pomelo I, as well as that of GFJ. Furthermore, the inhibition of both 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone and metabolism of tacrolimus by pomelo I and GFJ was preincubation time-dependent. On the other hand, the extract of pomelo I had little effect on the transcellular transport of tacrolimus or [(3)H]digoxin across a monolayer of LLC-GA5-COL150 cells (a porcine kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1, transfected with human MDR1 cDNA and overexpressing human P-glycoprotein). In conclusion, pomelo constituents inhibit the activity of CYP3A4 and may thereby produce an increase in the blood level of tacrolimus.

Pomelo-induced increase in the blood level of tacrolimus in a renal transplant patient.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive agent, is widely used in patients after transplantation to prevent allograft rejection. Because tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic range, it is essential to carefully control the blood level. It has been demonstrated that tacrolimus is metabolized mainly by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4, and that tacrolimus is a substrate of P-glycoprotein. METHODS: This article reports a case of considerable increase in the blood level of tacrolimus after the intake of pomelo in a renal transplant recipient. RESULTS: Pomelo may increase the blood concentration of tacrolimus by inhibiting CYP 3A4, P-glycoprotein, or both. CONCLUSIONS: Patients taking drugs such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine, which have their kinetics affected by grapefruit juice, should avoid pomelo and other grapefruit-related citrus fruits.