Human HepaRG liver spheroids: cold storage protocol and study on pyridinium oxime-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro

Oximes play an essential role in the therapy of organophosphorus compound (OP) poisoning by reactivating inhibited acetylcholinesterase. Impairment of liver function was observed in OP poisoning and associated with obidoxime treatment by some reports. In this study human three-dimensional HepaRG spheroids were used as complex in vitro model to investigate oxime-induced liver toxicity. In this context, cold storage of liver spheroids at 4 °C in standard culture medium and in optimized tissue preservation solutions of up to 72 h was assessed. Cold storage in standard culture medium resulted in a complete loss of viability whereas an optimized tissue preservation solution preserved viability. Separately from that liver spheroids were exposed to the four oximes pralidoxime, obidoxime, HI-6, MMB-4 and cytotoxicity (effective concentration, EC₅₀) was determined with an ATP-based assay at several time points. The release of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin secretion was measured in supernatants. The same parameters were assessed with diclofenac as positive hepatotoxic control and with the OP pesticides malathion and malaoxon alone or in the presence of obidoxime. All individual tested oximes and OP showed a low cytotoxicity with effective concentrations mostly >2,000 μM. In contrast, the exposure to malaoxon in the presence of 1,000 μM obidoxime resulted in a marked decrease of viability and an increased release of AST indicating risk of liver injury only if oxime antidotes are strongly overdosed.

Reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography-diode array detection of the bispyridinium compound MB327: plasma analysis of a potential novel antidote for the treatment of organophosphorus poisoning

In the case of poisoning by organophosphorus nerve agents or pesticides, there is still a lack of pharmacological treatment of the cholinergic crisis selectively targeting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Recently, the compound MB327 was identified as a potential novel lead structure to close this gap, thus demanding a quantitative assay for initial pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. MB327 is a salt consisting of the dicationic bispyridinium compound (BPC) 1,1´-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(4-tert-butylpyridinium) and two iodide counter ions. Due to the permanent positive charge of the BPC, an isocratic reversed-phase ion-pair chromatographic separation (RPIPC) was developed using heptanesulfonic acid as ion-pairing reagent and 45% v/v methanol as organic modifier (1 mL/min). Selective UV-detection (230 nm) was done by a diode array detector (DAD) for reliable, rugged, precise (RSD < 7%) and accurate (96-104%) quantitative analysis of 50 μL swine plasma (linear range 1-1000 µg BPC/mL plasma, lower limit of quantification 2 µg/mL). During method validation, diverse parameters essential for the chromatographic process were investigated to generate van´t Hoff, van Deemter and width plots allowing calculation of thermodynamic data like the distribution constant K (5.7 ± 0.3), change in enthalpy, ΔH(0) : -23.66 kJ/mol, and entropy, ΔS(0) : -65 J/(mol*K). In addition, RPIPC-DAD analysis enabled calculation of molar absorptivities of the BPC, ε230 : 17 400 ± 1100 L/(mol*cm), and iodide, ε230 : 9900 ± 400 L/(mol*cm), which determination was hampered by interference with each other in conventional cuvette UV-spectrophotometric measurements. Finally, the RPIPC-DAD procedure was applied to samples from an in vivo study of swine.

LC–MS/MS approaches for the assay of bis-quaternary pyridinium oximes used as AChE reactivators in biological matrices

Background: Extreme efforts are made for the structural diversification of oximes used as AChE reactivators. Co-administration of different oximes should also be considered as a solution in therapy. Consequently, development of selective assays of oximes in biological matrices is of major importance. Results: Three chromatographic separation mechanisms were evaluated: hydrophilic-interaction LC; mixed reversed-phase/cation exchange (DUET); and reversed-phase ion pairing based on per-fluorinated agents. MS was used to identify and quantify oximes. Alternative preparation of whole blood and plasma samples were used based on protein precipitation through addition of acetonitrile or ionic liquids. Quality characteristics of the proposed analytical approaches are discussed. Conclusion: The reversed-phase ion pairing based on per-fluorinated agents chromatographic separation mechanism and positive ESI-MS/MS detection produced the best results for the assay of bis-quaternary pyridinium oximes. LLOQ in the tenths of nanogram per milliliter range are achievable.