Host Immunity Influences the Composition of Murine Gut Microbiota.

The influence of gut microbiota on host immunity is widely studied, and its disturbance has been linked to several immune-mediated disorders. Conversely, whether and how inherently disturbed canonical Th1 (pro-inflammatory) and/or Th2 (anti-inflammatory) immune pathways modify the host microbiome is not sufficiently investigated. Here, we characterized the humoral, cellular, and cytokine immunity, and associated alterations in gut microbiota of naïve wild-type mice (C57BL/6 and BALB/c), and mice with deficiencies in Th2 responses (IL-4Rα and IL-33 knockout mice) or in both Th1 and Th2 responses (NOD scid gamma, NSG mice). A global analysis by de novo clustering of 16S rRNA profiles of the gut microbiota independently grouped wild-type immunocompetent (C57BL/6 and BALB/c), Th2-deficient (IL-4Rα-/- and IL-33-/-), and severely immunodeficient (NSG) mice; where wild-type mice, but not Th2 or severely immunodeficient mice, were enriched in gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids. These include members of phyla Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, and Bacteroidetes such as Lactobacillus spp., Akkermansia muciniphila, and Odoribacter spp. Further comparison of the two naïve wild-type mouse strains showed higher microbial diversity (Shannon), primarily linked to higher richness (Chao1), as well as a distinct difference in microbial composition (weighted UniFrac) in BALB/c mice compared to C57BL/6. T-cell and blood cytokine analyses demonstrated a Th1-polarization in naïve adaptive immunity in C57BL/6 animals compared to BALB/c mice, and an expected Th2 deficient cellular response in IL-4Rα-/- and IL-33-/- mice compared to its genetic background BALB/c strain. Together, these data suggest that alterations in the Th1/Th2 balance or a complete ablation of Th1/Th2 responses can lead to major alterations in gut microbiota composition and function. Given the similarities between the human and mouse immune systems and gut microbiota, our finding that immune status is a strong driver of gut microbiota composition has important consequences for human immunodeficiency studies.

Blood Cytokine Analysis Suggests That SARS-CoV-2 Infection Results in a Sustained Tumour Promoting Environment in Cancer Patients.

Cytokines, chemokines, and (angiogenic) growth factors (CCGs) have been shown to play an intricate role in the progression of both solid and haematological malignancies. Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to a worse outcome in cancer patients, especially in haematological malignancy patients. Here, we investigated how SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts the already altered CCG levels in solid or haematological malignancies, specifically, whether there is a protective effect or rather a potentially higher risk for major COVID-19 complications in cancer patients due to elevated CCGs linked to cancer progression. Serially analysing immune responses with 55 CCGs in cancer patients under active treatment with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection, we first showed that cancer patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 54) demonstrate elevated levels of 35 CCGs compared to the non-cancer, non-infected control group of health care workers (n = 42). Of the 35 CCGs, 19 were common to both the solid and haematological malignancy groups and comprised previously described cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1Ra, IL-17A, and VEGF, but also several less well described cytokines/chemokines such as Fractalkine, Tie-2, and T cell chemokine CTACK. Importantly, we show here that 7 CCGs are significantly altered in SARS-CoV-2 exposed cancer patients (n = 52). Of these, TNF-α, IFN-ß, TSLP, and sVCAM-1, identified to be elevated in haematological cancers, are also known tumour-promoting factors. Longitudinal analysis conducted over 3 months showed persistence of several tumour-promoting CCGs in SARS-CoV-2 exposed cancer patients. These data demonstrate a need for increased vigilance for haematological malignancy patients as a part of long COVID follow-up.

Simultaneous determination of colchicine and febuxostat in rat plasma: Application in a rat pharmacokinetic study.

A selective, sensitive and rapid LC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated as per US Food and Drug Administration regulatory guidelines for the simultaneous quantitation of colchicine and febuxostat in rat plasma. Colchicine and febuxostat were extracted from the rat plasma using 10% tert-butyl methyl ether in ethyl acetate using colchicine-d6 as an internal standard (IS). The chromatographic separation of colchicine, febuxostat and the IS was achieved using a mobile phase comprising 5 mm ammonium formate and 0.025% formic acid in acetonitrile (20:80, v/v) in isocratic mode on an Eclipse XDB-C18 column. The injection volume and flow rate were 5.0 µl and 0.9 ml/min, respectively. Colchicine and febuxostat were detected by positive electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode using transition pairs (Q1 → Q3) of m/z 400.10 → 358.10 and 317.05 → 261.00, respectively. The assay was linear in the ranges of 0.25-254 and 2.60-622 ng/ml for colchicine and febuxostat, respectively. The inter- and intra-day precision values were 0.58-13.0 and 1.03-4.88% for colchicine and febuxostat, respectively. No matrix or carryover effects were observed during the validation. Both analytes were stable on the bench-top, in the autosampler and in storage (freeze-thaw cycles and long-term storage at -80°C). A pharmacokinetic study in rats was performed to show the applicability of the validated method.

Preparation and optimization of nilotinib self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery systems to enhance oral bioavailability.

Objective: The objective of the current research was to prepare self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) for BCS class II drug, nilotinib to enhance its oral bioavailability.Methodology: Different types of excipients like oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant were evaluated for drug solubility. Among the screened excipients, Capryol 90, Transcutol HP, and Tween 80 were selected as oil, co-surfactant, and surfactant, respectively, to construct a ternary phase diagram to identify a homogenous mixture. Characterization performed for the prepared SMEDDS for its particle size/droplet size, emulsification time, phase separation, droplet morphology, in vitro drug release, and oral bioavailability.Results: Prepared SMEDDS showed the highest of 87% drug release in in vitro drug release experiment. SMEDDS drug release was superior over suspension formulation, which could be attributed to oil/surfactant ratios and particle size of the SMEDDS. The acquired pharmacokinetic parameters indicate that twofold increase in systemic exposure of SMEDDS compared with nilotinib suspension formulation. A similar twofold increase in relative oral bioavailability was also observed when compared SMEDDS formulation with suspension formulation. Delayed Tmax (time to reach peak plasma concentrations) was observed with SMEDDS over suspension formulation, which was evident by slow rate of absorption of nilotinib from SMEDDS.Conclusion: This research demonstrated that SMEDDS could be an effective approach to improve solubility and oral bioavailability for the BCS class II poorly soluble nilotinib.

Uptake and pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime in rabbits after intravitreal, intracameral, and topical dosing: relevance to human ocular injection of cefuroxime.

Cefuroxime is one of the widely used antibiotics. The objective of this study was to determine pharmacokinetics and disposition in various ocular tissues following topical (TOP), intracameral (IC) and intravitreal (IVT) administration of cefuroxime to rabbits.Following TOP, IC and IVT dosing plasma and various ocular tissues (aqueous humor (AH), vitreous humor (VH), conjunctiva, trabecular mesh (TM), lens and retina-choroid (RC)) were collected and analyzed to understand the disposition of cefuroxime. Postintravenous administration plasma samples were collected to determine the systemic pharmacokinetics.Post-TOP dosing cefuroxime concentrations were observed only in conjunctiva up to 48 h. IC administration showed cefuroxime concentrations in AH up to 8 h; in conjunctiva, TM and plasma, the concentration lasted up to 4 h and in RC and VH till 1 h. IVT administration of cefuroxime showed concentrations in all ocular tissues (up to 8 h) and lasted up to 48 h except in conjunctiva and RC.There was evidence that the mechanism(s) of cefuroxime entry into the eye by via IVT, IC and TOP routes is clearly different. The present ocular tissue data may aid clinicians for considering appropriate choice in the treatment of post-operative ocular complications due to bacterial infections including endophthalmitis.

Prediction of Human Pharmacokinetics of Fomepizole from Preclinical Species Pharmacokinetics Based on Normalizing Time Course Profiles.

Fomepizole is used as an antidote to treat methanol poisoning due to its selectivity towards alcohol dehydrogenase. In the present study, the goal is to develop a method to predict the fomepizole human plasma concentration versus time profile based on the preclinical pharmacokinetics using the assumption of superimposability on simulated time course profiles of animals and humans. Standard allometric equations with/without correction factors were also assimilated in the prediction. The volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) predicted by simple allometry (57.55 L) was very close to the reported value (42.17 L). However, clearance (CL) prediction by simple allometry was at least 3-fold higher to the reported value (33.86 mL/min); hence, multiple correction factors were used to predict the clearance. Both brain weight and maximum life span potential could predict the CL with 1.22- and 1.01-fold difference. Specifically, the predicted Vss and CL values via interspecies scaling were used in the prediction of series of human intravenous pharmacokinetic parameters, while the simulation of human oral profile was done by the use of absorption rate constant (Ka) from dog following the applicability of human bioavailability value scaled from dog data. In summary, the findings indicate that the utility of diverse allometry approaches to derive the human pharmacokinetics of fomepizole after intravenous/oral dosing.

Validated LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of ivosidenib in 10 µL mice plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study.

A simple, selective and rapid LC-ESI-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the quantification of ivosidenib in mice plasma using warfarin as an internal standard (I.S.) as per regulatory guideline. Sample preparation was accomplished through a simple protein precipitation process. Chromatography of ivosidenib and the I.S. was achieved on an Atlantis dC18 column using an isocratic mobile phase comprising 0.2 % formic acid in water and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. LC-MS/MS was operated under the multiple reaction-monitoring mode (MRM) using the electrospray ionization technique in positive ion mode and the transitions of m/z 583.1→186.1 and m/z 309.2→251.3 were used to quantitate ivosidenib and the I.S, respectively. The total chromatographic run time was 2.0 min. Linearity was established in the concentration range of 1.10-3293 ng/mL (r2>0.99). The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision for ivosidenib in mice plasma were in the range of 5.72-9.91 and 5.90-10.7 %, respectively. Ivosidenib was found to be stable on bench-top for 6 h, up to three freeze-thaw cycles, in in-injector for 24 h and for one month at -80 °C. The applicability of the validated method has been demonstrated in a mice pharmacokinetic study. Following intravenous (2 mg/kg) and oral (5 mg/kg) administration of ivosidenib to mice, concentrations were quantifiable up to 24 and 48 h, respectively. The bioavailability was 61 %.

Prediction of Human Pharmacokinetics of Bendamustine from Preclinical Species Pharmacokinetics Based on Normalizing Time Course Profiles.

Bendamustine, an alkylating anticancer agent, is used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia by intravenous infusion alone or in combination. The work aimed to develop a method to predict time vs. concentration profile for humans based on preclinical pharmacokinetics using the assumption of superimposability of normalized time course profiles of animals and humans. Standard allometric equations with/without correction factors (CF) were also used in prediction. The Vss was predicted by simple allometry of 0.312W0.871 (r2=0.987), where W is body weight; predicted Vss (19.71 L) was similar to the reported value (20.10 L). However, CL prediction involved both simple and CF allometry. Best proximity CL (543 vs. 598 mL/min) was obtained with maximum life span correction (MLP) [2.46W1.215 (r2=0.988)]. Normalized curves were obtained by normalizing the time (with mean residence time) vs. concentration (with dose/Vss) in animal species. The concentration vs. time profile in humans after intravenous infusion was then simulated using normalized curve for each animal species and the values of CL and Vss were predicted for humans. In summary the findings indicate that normalized time course approach could predict the bendamustine human pharmacokinetics and such an approach could be prospectively applied for analog drugs of this class.

Prediction of Human Pharmacokinetics of Ulixertinib, a Novel ERK1/2 Inhibitor from Mice, Rats, and Dogs Pharmacokinetics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ulixertinib (BVD-523) is a novel and selective reversible inhibitor of ERK1/ERK2. The primary objectives of the study were to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ulixertinib in mice, rats, and dogs followed by prediction of human pharmacokinetic profile by allometric equations with/without correction factors. METHODS: Oral and intravenous pharmacokinetic profiles of ulixertinib were generated in mice, rats, and dogs. The human intravenous pharmacokinetics profiles [volume of distribution (Vss) and clearance (CL)] were predicted employing simple allometry and using correction factors [maximum life span potential (MLP) and brain weight (BW)]. Pharmacokinetic data obtained from dogs were used to simulate human oral profile [area under the curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax)]. RESULTS: Post-intravenous administration the CL was moderate in dogs (15.5 mL/min/kg) and low in mice (6.24 mL/min/kg) and rats (1.67 mL/min/kg). Vss was 0.56, 0.36, and 1.61 L/kg in mice, rats, and dogs, respectively. The half-life (t½) of ulixertinib ranged between 1.0 and 2.5 h across the animal species. Following oral administration ulixertinib attained maximum concentration in plasma (Tmax) within 0.50-0.75 h in mice and rats, indicating that absorption was rapid; however, in dogs, Tmax attained at 2 h. Absolute oral bioavailability in mice and rats was > 92%; however, in dogs, it was 34%. By different allometric approaches, simple method and brain weight correction factor shown clear improvement in the prediction efficiency of allometric scaling for Vss (1.34-1.70 L/kg) and CL (4.18-6.09 mL/min/kg), respectively, comparing with the MLP method and simple method for CL. Similarly, simulation of oral human profile was attained from scaled values and dog data to predict reported human profile (AUC and Cmax). CONCLUSIONS: The derived pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC and Cmax at 600 mg dose) and simulated plasma concentration-time profiles of ulixertinib in humans were predicted with good confidence by allometric approach.