Effect of rat serum lipoproteins on mRNA levels and amiodarone metabolism by cultured primary rat hepatocytes.

Hyperlipidemia can significantly increase amiodarone (AM) in vivo liver uptake and decrease its velocity of microsomal metabolism. Here, hepatocytes isolated from normolipidemic (NL) and hyperlipidemic rats were incubated with AM in the presence or absence of diluted NL or hyperlipidemic serum. The serum was added either as preincubation before drug, or concurrently with drug; incubations without rat serum were used as controls. The hepatocyte levels of mRNA for several proteins and enzymes were also measured. Disappearance of AM was seen up to 72 h. There was little difference between hepatocytes from NL or hyperlipidemic animals in intrinsic clearance (CL(int) ) of AM. The effect of hyperlipidemic rat serum, either before or with AM, was profound, causing a significant reduction in the CL(int) . Reductions were seen in mRNA for cytochrome P450 1A1, 3A2, and 2D1, some transporters, and low-density lipoprotein receptors after exposure of hepatocytes to lipoprotein-rich sera. In conclusion, exposure of isolated hepatocytes to hyperlipidemic serum caused decreases in AM CL(int) and lower mRNA levels for some proteins involved in the uptake and metabolism of AM. When coincubated with serum, an additional effect of increased binding to lipoproteins seemed to further contribute to a reduced CL of AM.

Effect of serum lipoproteins on stereoselective halofantrine metabolism by rat hepatocytes.

Experimental hyperlipidemia has shown to decrease cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C11 expression and to increase liver concentrations and the plasma protein binding of halofantrine (HF) enantiomers. The present study examined the effect of hyperlipidemic (HL) serum on the metabolism of HF enantiomers by primary rat hepatocytes. Hepatocytes from normolipidemic (NL) and HL (poloxamer 407 treated) rats were incubated with rac-HF in cell media with or without additional rat serum (5%). In those incubations with rat serum, the hepatocytes were preincubated or coincubated with serum from NL or HL rats. Rat serum-free hepatocyte incubations served as controls. Stereospecific assays were used to measure HF and desbutylhalofantrine (its major metabolite) enantiomer concentrations in whole well contents (cells + media). Concentrations of desbutylhalofantrine were not measurable. The disappearance (apparent metabolism) of (-)-HF exceeded that of antipode, but HF metabolism did not differ between hepatocytes from NL and HL rats. Coincubation of HL rat serum with NL hepatocytes caused a significant decrease in the disappearance of (-)-HF, whereas in HL hepatocytes, a substantially decreased apparent metabolism was noted for both enantiomers. Compared with NL serum, (-)-HF disappearance was significantly lowered upon preincubation of NL hepatocytes with HL serum. A combination of factors including diminished drug metabolizing or lipoprotein receptor expression, and increased plasma protein binding in the wells, may have contributed to a decrease in apparent metabolism of the HF enantiomers in the presence of lipoproteins from HL rat serum.

Effect of experimental hyperlipidaemia on the electrocardiographic effects of repeated doses of halofantrine in rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Halofantrine can cause a prolongation of the cardiac QT interval, leading to serious ventricular arrhythmias. Hyperlipidaemia elevates plasma concentration of halofantrine and may influence its tissue uptake. The present study examined the effect of experimental hyperlipidaemia on QT interval prolongation induced by halofantrine in rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Normolipidaemic and hyperlipidaemic rats (induced with poloxamer 407) were given 4 doses of halofantrine (i.v., 4-40 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) or vehicle every 12 h. Under brief anaesthesia, ECGs were recorded before administration of the vehicle or drug and 12 h after the first and last doses. Blood samples were taken at the same time after the first and last dose of halofantrine. Hearts were also collected 12 h after the last dose. Plasma and heart samples were assayed for drug and desbutylhalofantrine using a stereospecific method. KEY RESULTS: In the vehicle group, hyperlipidaemia by itself did not affect the ECG. Compared to baseline, QT intervals were significantly higher in both normolipidaemic and hyperlipidaemic rats after halofantrine. In hyperlipidaemic rats, plasma but not heart concentrations of the halofantrine enantiomers were significantly higher compared to those in normolipidaemic rats. Despite the lack of difference in the concentrations of halofantrine in heart, QT intervals were significantly higher in hyperlipidaemic compared to those in normolipidaemic rats. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The unbound fraction of halofantrine appeared to be the controlling factor for drug uptake by the heart. Our data suggested a greater vulnerability to halofantrine-induced QT interval prolongation in the hyperlipidaemic state.

Effect of bile and lipids on the stereoselective metabolism of halofantrine by rat everted-intestinal sacs.

The everted rat intestinal-sac model was utilized to assess the effect of post-prandial conditions on the stereoselective intestinal metabolism of halofantrine to its active metabolite desbutylhalofantrine. Everted intestinal sacs were incubated with (+/-)-halofantrine HCl in the presence of simulated bile solution (containing lecithin, lipase and cholesterol) and lipids to mimic post-prandial conditions in the small intestine. The halofantrine enantiomer concentrations in intestinal sacs were relatively constant in the presence of bile, but decreased significantly on addition of lipids to the incubation media. Formation of desbutylhalofantrine enantiomers was inversely proportional to bile concentration whereas addition of lipids in the presence of bile caused a significant decrease in desbutylhalofantrine:halofantrine ratio of (-) enantiomers. Pre-treatment of rats with peanut oil had no significant effect on desbutylhalofantrine formation in the incubated sacs or microsomal preparations, nor did it affect the expression of intestinal cytochrome P450. Addition of extra cholesterol to the bile incubations caused a significant increase in tissue halofantrine and desbutylhalofantrine concentrations, which as for lower cholesterol, were diminished on addition of other lipids. The results were consistent with previous in vivo evaluations showing that the desbutylhalofantrine to halofantrine ratio was decreased by the ingestion of a high fat meal.

The effect of oral lipids and circulating lipoproteins on the metabolism of drugs.

The oral bioavailability of many lipophilic drugs is known to increase when coadministered with fatty meals. Although such a phenomenon is typically ascribed to increased solubilization and absorption of drug, in some cases this increase in systemic exposure may be in part due to the influence of lipids on the presystemic metabolism of the affected drug. Oral lipids on their absorption may interfere with the drug metabolizing enzymes expressed in the small intestine and/or liver. Fatty acids incorporated in dietary triglyceride can modulate the expression and activity of drug metabolizing enzymes within the small intestine. Lipoproteins, which are the major carriers of lipids in the systemic circulation, can become associated with lipophilic drugs. Such a combination may influence the metabolism of lipophilic drugs through limiting their uptake into the cells thereby decreasing their metabolism. In a contrary manner, an increased uptake and metabolism of lipoprotein-bound drug may be facilitated by lipoprotein receptors mediated uptake. The components of lipoproteins may also modulate the expression or activity of hepatic and extrahepatic drug metabolizing enzymes.

The effect of experimental hyperlipidemia on the stereoselective tissue distribution, lipoprotein association and microsomal metabolism of (+/-)-halofantrine.

The effect of hyperlipidemia on the biodistribution of (+/-)-halofantrine (HF) was studied in rats. Plasma, adipose, and highly perfused tissues heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and brain were harvested for up to 48 h after dosing animals with 2 mg/kg (+/-)-HF intravenously by tail vein. Stereospecific HPLC was used to measure HF and desbutyl-HF (DHF) enantiomer concentrations. Plasma concentrations of both HF enantiomers in hyperlipidemic (HL) exceeded those in normolipidemic (NL) rats by 11- to 15-fold. Significant increases in AUC of both HF enantiomers were noted in HL spleen tissue whereas decreases were seen in HL lung and fat. In rest of the tissues either decreases or no changes were noted in HL. The concentrations of DHF were very low in NL and HL plasma but were much higher in all highly perfused tissues. Both HF and DHF enantiomers shifted from lipoprotein deficient fraction to triglyceride-rich fractions in HL plasma following in vitro incubation of the respective racemic compounds. Compared to NL, no significant differences were noted in HF metabolism to DHF in HL liver microsomes. It would appear that both reduced plasma unbound fraction and lipoprotein associated directed uptake of lipoprotein-bound drug by tissues play roles in enantiomer biodistribution.

The impact of experimental hyperlipidemia on the distribution and metabolism of amiodarone in rat.

The tissue distribution and hepatic microsomal metabolism of amiodarone were studied in a hyperlipidemic rat model. Rats were rendered hyperlipidemic by the intraperitoneal injection of poloxamer 407. Other normolipidemic animals given saline in place of poloxamer 407 were used as control animals. After single intravenous injection of amiodarone HCl (25mg/kg) rats were anesthetized and plasma and tissue specimens were obtained. Liver microsomal protein was harvested and used to measure velocity of desethylamiodarone formation from amiodarone and cytochrome P450 (CYP) protein expression. Hyperlipidemia caused large increases in plasma concentrations of amiodarone. In tissues, however, concentrations of drug selectively increased, decreased or did not change. In heart, the site of action of the drug, as well as liver and spleen, amiodarone concentrations increased. In other tissues such as kidney, lung and brain, concentrations decreased. No changes were seen in fat or thyroid. Decreases were observed in liver metabolic efficiency, and expression of CYP3A1/2 and 2C11. No changes were seen in CYP2B1/2, 2C6, 2D1 or 1A2. This experimental hyperlipidemia caused a complex pattern of changes in tissue distribution of AM. In addition, there are decreases in the expression of some important rat CYP isoenzymes.