Contribution of gut bacteria to the metabolism of the spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor R406 in cynomolgus monkey.

The spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor R406 is orally administered as the prodrug R788. Following administration of R788 (12.5 mg kg(-1), 20 microCi kg(-1 14)C-R788) to intact and bile duct-cannulated cynomolgus monkeys, drug-related radioactivity was rapidly observed in plasma. No R788 was observed in plasma, while R406 was the major radioactive peak observed at all time points. Only low levels of metabolites were observed in plasma. The half-life for plasma radioactivity was 2.0-2.8 h. The majority (68.9%) of drug-related radioactivity was eliminated into bile. No intact R406 was observed in excreta. Biliary and urinary metabolites consisted of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of the para-O-demethylated metabolite of R406 (R529), and a direct N-glucuronide of R406. The major metabolite in faeces from intact and bile duct-cannulated monkeys was a unique 3,5-benzene diol metabolite of R406. This metabolite was formed following the sequential O-demethylation and para-dehydroxylation of R529 by anaerobic gut bacteria.

Metabolism of the influenza neuraminidase inhibitor prodrug oseltamivir in the rat.

The metabolism of [2-acetyl-(14)C]oseltamivir (GS4104, Ro 64-0796), the prodrug of the novel influenza neuraminidase inhibitor GS4071 (Ro 64-0802), was examined in rats after oral dosing. Intact oseltamivir was observed only in lung and urine, accounting for 37 and 15% of the total radioactivity in these samples, respectively. GS4071 was the major metabolite in plasma, tissues, and urine, and accounted for 32 to 56% of the radioactivity present in these samples. The second most abundant peak in these samples (13-24% of radioactivity) was a novel metabolite (M3). This metabolite was purified from urine of rats dosed orally with oseltamivir and was identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and NMR as the (R)-omega-carboxylic acid metabolite of oseltamivir. The omega-carboxylic acid metabolite of oseltamivir could not be produced in vitro. However, omega-hydroxylated products of oseltamivir were produced by rat liver microsomes. Both the (R)- and (S)-omega-hydroxylated products were observed, but formation of the (R)-isomer predominated. These data indicated that in the rat, oseltamivir was primarily metabolized to the active influenza neuraminidase inhibitor GS4071 and, to a lesser extent, to an (R)-omega-carboxylic acid metabolite.

Stereospecific synthesis of a GS 4104 metabolite: determination of absolute stereochemistry and influenza neuraminidase inhibitory activity.

The total synthesis for the determination of the absolute stereochemistry of a GS 4104 metabolite 3 is described. In addition, the influenza neuraminidase inhibitory activity of 3 and related intermediates are reported.

Stereoselective glucuronidation of zileuton isomers by human hepatic microsomes.

The glucuronidation of the R-isomer and S-isomer of the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton was examined using human hepatic microsomes. The glucuronidation of both isomers followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, but glucuronidation rates were between 3.6- and 4.3-fold greater for the S-isomer. The apparent Km's (microM) for the R-isomer (392.9 +/- 35.9) and S-isomer (322.5 +/- 22.0) glucuronidation were similar, whereas the apparent Vmax (nmol/mg protein/min) was 3.4-fold greater for the S-isomer (5.2 +/- 0.7). In combination, each isomer competitively inhibited the glucuronidation of its antipode. The average Ki (microM) determined for S-isomer inhibition of R-isomer glucuronidation (197.8 +/- 61.3) was 2.4-fold lower than the Ki for the reciprocal interaction. These data indicate that the glucuronidation of the zileuton isomers in human hepatic microsomes is stereoselective. This stereoselective glucuronidation may be the basis for the more rapid clearance of the S-isomer observed in humans receiving zileuton.

Enantiomeric activation of glucuronidation in dog hepatic microsomes.

Isomer-specific mechanisms of conjugation were investigated by evaluating the hepatic glucuronidation of the enantiomers of the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton. The glucuronidation of the individual isomers was stereoselective, as dog hepatic microsomes glucuronidated the S-isomer but failed to generate a glucuronide conjugate of the R-isomer. In combination, the nonglucuronidated R-isomer caused a concentration-dependent increase in the rate of glucuronidation of its enantiomorph. Kinetic analysis of this interaction indicated that the R-isomer affected rates of glucuronidation by decreasing the Km of the S-isomer for this process. This effect appeared enantioselective as the achiral analogue A-65838 had no effect on the Vmax and Km of S-isomer glucuronidation. The data were modeled using Michaelis-Menten kinetics in which the Km of S-isomer glucuronidation was reduced in a saturable manner by the concentration of the R-isomer. These data indicate that the nonconjugated R-isomer competitively activates the glucuronidation of its enantiomorph. To our knowledge, these data represent the first demonstration of enantiomeric activation of an enzyme involved in hepatic drug metabolism.

Bile acid conjugation pattern in the isolated perfused rat liver during infusion of an amino acid formulation.

The influence of the taurine-containing amino acid mixture Trophamine on the pattern of bile acid conjugation was examined in the isolated perfused rat liver using cholic acid as the bile acid substrate. In all experiments, greater than 97% of the cholic acid appearing in bile was conjugated with taurine or glycine. The pattern of taurine and glycine bile acid conjugation, however, was dependent on the availability of taurine in the perfusate medium. Thus, in the absence of Trophamine infusion, the percentage of cholic acid conjugated with taurine (ie, taurocholate) declined throughout the course of the cholic acid infusion. Trophamine infusion increased the ratio of biliary taurocholate/glycocholate by 4.5-fold over that observed in the absence of the amino acid infusion. Increasing the amount of taurine in Trophamine by 2- or 5-fold resulted in a 1.8- and 4.3-fold increase, respectively, in the taurocholate/glycocholate ratio over that observed during the Trophamine infusion. Infusion of taurine alone, at an equimolar concentration of taurine as that in Trophamine, resulted in a similar taurocholate/glycocholate ratio as that observed during the Trophamine infusion. These data indicate that taurine availability, even in the presence of high concentrations of glycine and other amino acids in Trophamine, appears to be the most important factor in determining the pattern of bile acid conjugation in the isolated perfused rat liver.

2-Fluoro-beta-alanine, a previously unrecognized substrate for bile acid coenzyme A:amino acid:N-acyltransferase from human liver.

Our laboratory has demonstrated recently that conjugates of 2-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) and bile acids are the major biliary metabolites of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in cancer patients. Bile acids are normally conjugated with glycine or taurine, and therefore the identification of the FBAL-bile acid conjugates suggested that FBAL may also be a substrate for the bile acid conjugating enzyme, bile acid CoA:amino acid:N-acyltransferase. Enzyme activity detected using glycine and taurine as substrates was purified 8-fold from human liver cytosol using a DEAE-cellulose column. This preparation when tested for its activity towards beta-alanine and FBAL using cholyl CoA as the bile acid substrate only catalyzed the formation of FBAL-cholate. beta-Alanine was not a substrate. Confirmation of FBAL-cholate as the enzymatic product was demonstrated by (1) coelution of the product of this reaction on HPLC with authentic FBAL-cholate, (2) specific hydrolysis of this product by cholylglycine hydrolase, and (3) molecular weight of the product (497) being identical to that of the authentic FBAL-cholate. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that the enzyme had an affinity for FBAL (Km 1.45 mM) comparable to taurine (Km 1.32 mM), but greater than glycine (Km 6.45 mM). Formation of FBAL-cholate was inhibited competitively by taurine (Ki 1.27 mM) and glycine (Ki 4.47 mM), suggesting that a single enzyme is responsible for conjugation of glycine, taurine and FBAL with bile acids. These data indicate that the formation of the FBAL-bile acid conjugates in patients receiving FUra results from high affinity of the bile acid conjugating enzyme for FBAL.

Biological properties of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in the isolated perfused rat liver.

The isolated perfused rat liver was used to examine the hepatic extraction, biliary secretion and effect on bile flow of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid. The naturally occurring taurine and glycine conjugates of these bile acids were used for comparisons. The 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates were extracted by the liver to a similar extent as the taurine and glycine conjugates. The biliary secretion rate and increase in bile flow were similar for all the cholic acid conjugates. On the other hand, the maximal biliary secretion rate of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate was similar to that of the glycochenodeoxycholate, but 47% lower than that of taurochenodeoxycholate. In addition, the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate produced a decrease in bile flow that was comparable to that observed with the glycochenodeoxycholate (54% vs. 74%), but which was greater than that produced by the taurochenodeoxycholate (12%). In summary, these data demonstrate that the biological properties of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are not markedly different from those of the naturally occurring taurine and glycine conjugates. These data also suggest that the amino acid moiety can influence the biliary secretion and cholestatic properties of chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates.

Sulfation of acetaminophen in isolated rat hepatocytes. Relationship to sulfate ion concentrations and intracellular levels of 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate.

The relationships among sulfate ion concentration, rates of acetaminophen (APAP) sulfation, and intracellular levels of the cofactor for sulfation, 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) were examined in isolated rat hepatocytes. APAP sulfation rates increased as the sulfate ion concentration was raised to 1.0 mM, after which further increases in sulfate ion concentration failed to influence rates of sulfation. Cellular PAPS levels were directly related to the sulfate ion concentration both in the presence and absence of APAP. However, PAPS levels were reduced by as much as 93% in the presence of APAP. At sulfate ion concentrations below 1.0 mM, the dependence of both rates of sulfation and levels of PAPS on the availability of sulfate ion indicates that rates of sulfation may be limited by the availability of PAPS when sulfate ion concentrations are in the physiological range. Because higher sulfate ion concentrations (greater than 1.0 mM) increased intracellular concentrations of PAPS without producing corresponding increases in APAP sulfation, phenol sulfotransferase activity may be rate limiting in the presence of high concentrations of sulfate ion.

Formation of conjugates of 2-fluoro-beta-alanine and bile acids during the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine in the isolated perfused rat liver.

We have recently demonstrated that the major biliary metabolite of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in cancer patients is a conjugate of the FUra catabolite 2-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) and cholic acid (D.J. Sweeny, S. Barnes, G. Heggie, and R.B. Diasio. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:5439-5443, 1987). This finding prompted us to further examine the metabolism and biliary excretion of clinically relevant concentrations of the fluoropyrimidines FUra and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) using the isolated perfused rat liver. During infusion of fluoropyrimidines, rates of appearance of metabolites in bile were similar with both 1 microM FUra and 1 microM FdUrd but were 9-fold higher with 25 microM FUra. Analysis by high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that unmetabolized fluoropyrimidines and known catabolites (i.e., FBAL) accounted for less than 15% of the total metabolites in bile and that the majority of the biliary metabolites were eluted as three distinct nonpolar compounds. Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry demonstrated that these unique metabolites had molecular weights of 497 (peak 1), 497 (peak 2), and 481 (peak 3). These metabolites were hydrolyzed by cholylglycine hydrolase to FBAL and unconjugated bile acids that were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to be alpha-muricholic acid (peak 1), cholic acid (peak 2), and chenodeoxycholic acid (peak 3). Thus, the major biliary metabolites of FUra and FdUrd were identified as N-(bile acid)-FBAL conjugates. While the N-(bile acid)-FBAL conjugates were the major metabolites in bile, dihydroFUra was the major (greater than 70%) metabolite eliminated into perfusate. In summary, these results demonstrate that FUra and FdUrd undergo similar metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver and, as was observed in humans, the major biliary fluoropyrimidine metabolites are conjugates of FBAL and bile acids.

Metabolism of 5-fluorouracil to an N-cholyl-2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate: previously unrecognized role for bile acids in drug conjugation.

Recently we demonstrated clinically significant levels of a previously unrecognized metabolite of the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in bile of cancer patients. In the present study, reanalysis of bile from these patients demonstrated the presence of not one but two previously unrecognized metabolites. The major unrecognized metabolite was purified by reversed-phase HPLC, after which its molecular weight was determined by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry to be 497. The similarity in HPLC retention times and molecular weights of this FUra derivative and the bile acids N-cholylglycine (Mr 465) and N-cholyltaurine (Mr 515), along with the structural similarity of the FUra catabolite 2-fluoro-beta-alanine and the amino acids glycine and taurine, led to the hypothesis that this metabolite could be a conjugate of 2-fluoro-beta-alanine and cholic acid. This hypothesis was tested and confirmed by hydrolyzing the purified metabolite by cholylglycine hydrolase after which: 2-fluoro-beta-alanine was demonstrated by using a sensitive HPLC technique capable of resolving all of the known putative FUra metabolites, and unconjugated cholic acid was identified by both GC and GC-MS. Additionally, chemically synthesized N-cholyl-2-fluoro-beta-alanine was shown to cochromatograph on HPLC and TLC with the purified biliary metabolite. In summary, this study demonstrates a unique, so far as we know, pathway of drug metabolism in man in which an amino acid drug metabolite is conjugated with cholic acid and eliminated into the bile. Furthermore, the finding that 2-fluoro-beta-alanine is conjugated to bile acids may provide some insight into the mechanism of cholestasis that is frequently observed after administration of fluoropyrimidine by hepatic arterial infusion.

Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene in the perfused rat liver: factors affecting the release of phenolic metabolites into the bile and perfusate.

The metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) to phenolic metabolites was studied in the non-recirculating perfused rat liver. After 30 min of BP (20 microM) infusion most phenols formed (78%) remained in the liver. Phenols detected in the perfusate and bile were primarily glucuronide (70%) and sulfate (20%) conjugates. When albumin was present in the perfusion buffer, release of phenols into perfusate was the predominant route of elimination from the liver. In the absence of albumin, biliary efflux of phenols predominated. Biliary concentrations of BP phenolic glucuronides and sulfates were at least 3.5-fold higher than their hepatic concentrations, suggesting an active transport of these metabolites into bile. Rates of biliary elimination of BP phenols were enhanced by the infusion of taurocholate, which displaces BP metabolites from intracellular stores. These results confirm and extend previous studies which have demonstrated that the release of BP phenols from the liver is a complex process, influenced by the availability of intracellular storage sites, biliary excretion mechanisms and the presence of carrier proteins such as albumin.

Diminished pentose cycle flux in perfused livers of ethanol-fed rats.

Rates of NADPH generation by the pentose phosphate pathway were evaluated in perfused livers from ethanol-fed or control rats by measuring the production of 14CO2 from 1-14C-glucose. Under basal perfusion conditions, livers from ethanol-fed rats released lactate and pyruvate into the perfusate at rates that were only 19% of the control values. Under these conditions, calculated rates of NADPH generation by the pentose cycle in livers of the ethanol-fed rats were only 50% of rates obtained with livers of control rats. 7-Ethoxycoumarin (7-EC), a substrate for mixed function oxidation, was infused to increase rates of hepatic NADPH utilization. In livers from control rats, 7-EC was oxidized at a rate of 2.6 mumol/g/hr, but rates of NADPH generation by the pentose cycle were increased by 8.8 mumol/g/hr. In livers from ethanol-fed rats, 7-EC was metabolized at rates of 7.2 mumol/g/hr, but the generation of NADPH by the pentose cycle was increased by only 3.9 mumol/g/hr. The infusion of 7-EC was associated with increases in rates of O2 uptake that exceeded rates of mixed function oxidation in both groups of animals. Ethanol feeding decreased the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by 40% and decreased the concentrations of glycogen by 66%. Thus, the decrease in pentose cycle flux in perfused livers may be due to diminished activity of the rate-controlling enzyme and/or diminished substrate supply from glycogen. However, cytosolic NADP+/NADPH ratios were identical in livers of both groups. Because NADPH was not depleted during the mixed function oxidation of 7-EC in livers from ethanol-fed rats, it is concluded that other hepatic sources of NADPH compensate for the diminished generation by the pentose cycle.

7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation in perfused livers from ethanol-fed rats: evidence for an important role of mitochondrial reducing equivalents.

Rates of 7-ethoxycoumarin (7EC) O-deethylation in perfused livers were increased approximately 3-fold by chronic ethanol feeding. The acute addition of ethanol (5 mM) and antimycin A (0.03 mM) strongly inhibited 7EC metabolism in perfused livers from ethanol-fed rats, but less inhibition was observed when these agents were added to microsomes or to perfused livers from control rats. The activity of the hepatic pentose phosphate cycle in perfused livers was assessed by comparing 14CO2 release during the infusion of 1-14C-glucose or 6-14C-glucose. 7EC infusion caused a 3-fold greater increase in 14CO2 production from 1-14C-glucose in a liver from a control rat than in a liver from an ethanol-fed rat, indicating greater hepatic pentose cycle activity in livers of control rats. Thus, the pronounced inhibition of 7EC metabolism caused by infusion of ethanol and antimycin A may be explained by a greater dependency on mitochondrial sources of NADPH in livers of ethanol-fed rats. Dinitrophenol (0.05 mM) did not inhibit 7EC metabolism in perfused livers, indicating that a reduction in the cellular redox state, and not diminished energetics, is involved in the mechanism of inhibition produced by antimycin A.

Inhibition of glucuronidation and sulfation by dibutyryl cyclic AMP in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (DBcAMP) has been reported to cause numerous alterations in the activity of hepatic monooxygenase enzymes following in vivo administration or in vitro addition to intact liver preparations. In the present report the effect of the nucleotide on metabolism of p-nitroanisole (pNA) and aniline was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. Initial studies indicated that in vitro addition of DBcAMP to hepatocytes increased metabolism of both pNA and aniline as determined by the production of oxidized metabolites, p-nitrophenol (pNP) and p-aminophenol, respectively. After enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase, it was determined that DBcAMP had increased accumulation of pNP formed from pNA by inhibiting further metabolism via conjugation reactions. Further studies using pNP directly as substrate confirmed the finding and revealed that glucuronidation was more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of DBcAMP than was sulfation. The 8-bromo derivative of cAMP was more potent than DBcAMP at inhibiting glucuronidation, whereas cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate were without effect. Noncyclic adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) also altered pNA and pNP metabolism. ATP and ADP increased pNP accumulation from pNA while ATP and AMP inhibited glucuronidation of pNP. DBcAMP was further found to decrease UDP-glucuronic acid levels in a concentration-dependent manner without disrupting the redox state (NAD+/NADH) in hepatocytes. The data suggest that adenine nucleotides exert a nonspecific inhibition upon glucuronidation and sulfation reactions.