Inhibition of rat splenocyte proliferation with methylprednisolone: in vivo effect of liposomal formulation

Dietary Chlorella vulgaris Ameliorates Altered Immunomodulatory Functions in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressive Mice

Based on the well-known toxicity of cyclophosphamide (CYP) on the immune system, this research investigated the modulating effects of the long-term dietary Chlorella vulgaris (CV) supplementation on the immunosuppression induced by CYP in mice, in order to provide a novel dietary design to mitigate the side effects of CYP therapy. Control, CYP-treated, CYP + CV (6%), CYP + CV (12%) and CYP + CV (24%) were used for 6 weeks, CV supplement in diet recovered the significantly reduced immunological function in CYP treated mice. As CV may have a modulating function through the inducible expression of cytokines, we assayed the expressions of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Our results suggested that CYP significantly reduced the lymphocytes proliferation and phagocytic activities of macrophages, and stimulated the production of IL-2, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ and that this impairment has been successfully adjusted by CV supplementation. Treatment with the algae also enhanced the natural killer (NK) cells cytotoxicity, and ameliorate histological changes of the spleen in CYP-treated mice. Therefore, as we found in this study, a diet supplemented with whole CV has beneficial effects on CVP-induced immunosuppression, through its immunomodulatory potential.

Dextran-methylprednisolone succinate as a prodrug of methylprednisolone: local immunosuppressive effects in liver after systemic administration to rats

PURPOSE

The purpose of this work was to study the local immunosuppressive effects of systemically administered methylprednisolone (MP) and its prodrug, dextran-methylprednisolone (DMP), in rat livers.

METHODS

Single 5 mg/kg (MP equivalent) doses of MP or DMP were injected intravenously to rats, and livers were isolated at different time points (0-72 h; n = 4/time point). Isolated livers were stimulated ex vivo with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and outlet perfusate and bile samples were analyzed for their concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The area under the perfusate TNF-alpha concentration-time curve (AUC) was used as a measure of immune response. Hepatic concentrations of MP and DMP were also measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

Both MP and DMP resulted in a decrease in lipopolysaccharide-induced increase in TNF-alpha AUC. MP injection 8 h before liver isolation resulted in a maximum of 50% decrease in TNF-alpha AUC. Compared with MP, the maximum effect of the prodrug (DMP) was both more intense (approximately 80% reduction in TNF-alpha AUC) and delayed (maximum inhibition at 24 h). Overall, the area under the effect (% inhibition of TNF-alpha)-time (%inhibition-h) for DMP (3,680 +/- 406) was approximately four times more than that for the parent drug (846 +/- 114). Whereas the MP concentrations in the liver were not quantifiable after the injection of the parent drug, relatively large concentrations of DMP and regenerated MP were found in the liver of DMP-injected rats.

CONCLUSIONS

After systemic administration to rats, both MP and DMP exhibit local immunosuppressive effects in the liver. The local effects of the prodrug (DMP), however, appear to be more intense and sustained than those of the parent drug (MP).

Dextran-methylprednisolone succinate as a prodrug of methylprednisolone: plasma and tissue disposition

Plasma and tissue disposition of a macromolecular prodrug of methylprednisolone (MP), dextran (70 kDa)-methylprednisolone succinate (DMP), was studied in rats. Single 5-mg/kg doses of DMP or unconjugated MP were administered into the tail veins of different groups of rats (n = 4/group/time point). Blood (cardiac puncture) and tissues (liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung, thymus, and brain) were collected at various times after DMP (0-96 h) or MP (0-2 h) injections. Concentrations of DMP and MP in samples were analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Conjugation of MP with 70-kDa dextran resulted in 22-, 300-, and 30-fold decreases in the steady-state volume of distribution, clearance, and terminal plasma rate constant of the steroid, respectively. As for tissue distribution, the conjugate delivered the steroid primarily to the spleen and liver as indicated by 19- and 3-fold increases, respectively, in the tissue/plasma area under the curve (AUC) ratios of the steroid. On the other hand, the tissue/plasma AUC ratios of the prodrug in other organs were negligible. Active MP was released from DMP slowly in the spleen and liver, and AUCs of the regenerated MP in these tissues were 55- and 4.8-fold, respectively, higher than those after the administration of the parent drug. In contrast, no parent drug was detected in the plasma of DMP-injected rats. These results indicate that DMP may be useful for the targeted delivery of MP to the spleen and liver where the active drug is slowly released.

Role of dosage regimen in controlling indirect pharmacodynamic responses

The role of drug delivery in controlling indirect pharmacodynamic responses was assessed via computer simulations and literature review. Simulations of responses related to basic indirect response mechanisms were performed for various drug input rates which allowed the importance of drug delivery rate on the overall pharmacodynamic response to be evaluated. Response versus time profiles of integrated or net responses and efficiency were examined. Rate of drug input has the greatest influence on the area under the effect curve when doses are larger and target drug concentrations are above the IC(50)/SC(50). The pharmacodynamics of drugs which elicit indirect pharmacologic responses such as corticosteroids, diuretics, growth hormone, erythropoietin and insulin indicate that sustained drug delivery enhances the therapeutic efficiency and pharmacodynamic availability.

Dextran-methylprednisolone succinate as a prodrug of methylprednisolone: immunosuppressive effects after in vivo administration to rats

PURPOSE

To study the immunosuppressive activities of a macromolecular prodrug of methylprednisolone (MP), dextran-methylprednisolone succinate (DEX-MPS), in rats.

METHODS

Single 5 mg/kg (MP equivalent) doses of MP or DEX-MPS were administered intravenously to rats, and blood and spleen samples were collected over 96 h. The immunosuppressive activity was determined by the effects of the free or dextran-conjugated drug on the mitogen-stimulated spleen lymphocyte proliferation. Additionally, the number of lymphocytes in the spleen cell suspensions was estimated. Further, the plasma and spleen concentrations of the conjugated and free MP were determined using size-exclusion and reversed-phase chromatographic methods, respectively.

RESULTS

Both MP and DEX-MPS injections resulted in the inhibition of the spleen lymphocyte proliferation. However, the maximal effect of DEX-MPS was significantly (P < 0.003) more intense (approximately 100% inhibition) and delayed (24 h) relative to that of MP (approximately 50% inhibition at 2 h). The DEX-MPS injection also resulted in a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher decline in the estimated number of spleen lymphocytes (approximately 80% at 24 h), compared with the MP injection (approximately 30% at 2 hr). Whereas the plasma and spleen concentrations of MP could not be measured at > or = 2 h after the drug injection, relatively high concentrations of DEX-MPS persisted in plasma and spleen for 24 h and 96 h, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Dextran-methylprednisolone conjugate can effectively deliver the corticosteroid to its site of action for immunosuppression, resulting in more intense and sustained effects when compared with the free drug administration.

Immunodynamics of methylprednisolone induced T-cell trafficking and deactivation using whole blood lymphocyte proliferation techniques in the rat

Glucocorticoids have diverse effects on various components of the immune system and assessment of such activities in vivo often involves complex techniques and numerous animals. We developed a whole blood technique for determining proliferation rate of lymphocytes in minute amounts of rat blood (5 microL as opposed to a whole rat spleen) (Fasanmade AA, Jusko WJ. J Immunol Methods 1995; 184: 163-167). This method was used in assessment of in vivo T-cell deactivation by methylprednisolone (MP). The blockade of this process by the anti-glucocorticoid, RU 40555, also allows measurement of T-lymphocyte trafficking between vascular and extravascular pools. Blood samples were taken over several hours after iv MP administration to adrenalectomized rats, MP concentrations and lympho-proliferative activities were determined ex vivo after mitogen activation with and without blocking MP with RU 40555. MP disposition was mono-exponential with a t(1/2) of 34 min. The pharmacodynamics (PD) of T-cell trafficking was modeled with a physiological indirect model to generate the IC(50) (0.4 ng/mL) for the inhibitory action of MP on return of T-cells to blood as well as cell trafficking rate constants. The overall suppression of blood T-cells was modeled with an equation which accounts directly for inhibition of the proliferation activity of available blood T-cells with an DC(50) of 0.37 ng/mL. MP produced an initial influx of T-cells to blood within 1 h of infusion, a later marked T-cell depletion with a nadir at 4 h, and return to baseline by 9 h. Lymphocyte deactivation occurred within minutes of MP infusion and returned to baseline in 9 h. MP action was prolonged owing to the low IC(50). This approach for assessing dual features of corticosteroid effects on T-cell trafficking and deactivation allows quantitative PK/PD modeling in small animals such as the rat.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between dehydroepiandrosterone and prednisolone in the rat

The effects of multiple-dosing with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-SO4) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of prednisolone were examined. Prednisolone (25 mg/kg i.v.) was administered to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 g) alone and following DHEA-SO4 (4 mg/kg i.v., every 8 h for 4 days). Male control rats cleared prednisolone faster [3.68 +/- 1.30 (males) vs 1.01 +/- 0.7 l/h/kg; p < 0.05] and had larger Vss (1.38 +/- 0.459 vs 0.394 +/- 0.500 l/kg; p < 0.05) than females both due largely to lesser plasma protein binding. Prednisolone clearance and Vss were not altered by DHEA-SO4 in males or females. The net effect of prednisolone on basophils and plasma corticosterone did not differ with gender. DHEA-SO4 had no effect on plasma corticosterone and did not alter prednisolone action. DHEA-SO4 inhibited basophil trafficking in males, but to a lesser extent than prednisolone, and antagonized the effect of prednisolone on basophil trafficking in both sexes. The steroid-sparing effect observed with DHEA clinically may not be due to an alteration of corticosteroid pharmacokinetics but partly to its ability to affect immune functions.

Characteristics of indirect pharmacodynamic models and applications to clinical drug responses

This review describes four basic physiologic indirect pharmacodynamic response (IDR) models which have been proposed to characterize the pharmacodynamics of drugs that act by indirect mechanisms such as inhibition or stimulation of the production or dissipation of factors controlling the measured effect. The principles underlying IDR models and their response patterns are described. The applicability of these basic IDR models to characterize pharmacodynamic responses of diverse drugs such as inhibition of gastric acid secretion by nizatidine and stimulation of MX protein synthesis by interferon alpha-2a is demonstrated. A list of other uses of these models is provided. These models can be readily extended to accommodate additional complexities such as nonstationary or circadian baselines, equilibration delay, depletion or accumulation of a precursor pool, sigmoidicity, or other mechanisms. Indirect response models which have a logical mechanistic basis account for time-delays in many responses and are widely applicable in clinical pharmacology.

Flow cytometry applications in pharmacodynamics and drug delivery

We highlight recent advances in flow cytometry that have potential applications in the pharmaceutical sciences, particularly in pharmacodynamics and drug delivery. These advances are discussed in the context of the preclinical development of anticancer agents, immunosuppressants and immunomodulators, and oligonucleotides and gene therapy.

Liposomal methylprednisolone in rats: dose-proportionality and chronic-dose pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics

PURPOSE

Methylprednisolone (MPL) encapsulated in liposomes (L-MPL) targets the immune system and enhances immunosuppressive activity of the steroid. We performed dose-dependent and chronic dose studies of L-MPL versus MPL.

METHODS

Male Lewis rats received 10 mg/kg i.v. bolus doses of L-MPL (Solu-Medrol). Plasma samples were obtained over an 8 day period and MPL concentrations were assayed by HPLC. Immunosuppressive effects were measured as inhibition of ex vivo splenocyte proliferation induced with PHA.

RESULTS

Drug concentrations declined in a similar manner over the first few hours following MPL or L-MPL. Free MPL was cleared from plasma by 6 hr, while the same dose of L-MPL resulted in persistence over an 8-day period. Dose-dependent changes in pharmacokinetic parameters were observed for both free and liposomal drug. Increasing the dose from 2 to 10 mg/kg led to increased clearance from 5.9 to 10.5 (MPL) and from 1.8 to 2.3 L/hr/kg (L-MPL). Blastogenesis was suppressed over 5 days with return to the baseline at day 8 (L-MPL); free MPL produced immunosuppression only over 10 hr. Multiple 2 mg/kg i.v. doses of L-MPL versus MPL twice a week produce plasma drug profiles similar to those obtained after single doses, indicating that neither free nor liposomal steroid accumulates in tissues. Liposomes without drug simultaneously administered with MPL caused partial prolongation of plasma steroid half-life (8.4 hr).

CONCLUSIONS

These studies clarify factors causing prolonged drug persistence and immunosuppression with L-MPL. Nonlinear disposition, irregular pharmacokinetics, and secondary effects of the liposomes are complicating factors in use of L-MPL.

Pharmacokinetics and receptor-mediated pharmacodynamics of corticosteroids

The corticosteroids, such as prednisolone and methylprednisolone, provide diverse antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects which typically show responses with slow onset and prolonged duration. This report summarizes modeling efforts which are successful in describing such steroid effects. Clinical effects with such a pattern, including adrenal suppression and altered trafficking of basophils and helper T-cells, can be related to plasma drug concentrations by models containing an inhibition function and differential equations for controlling input and disposition of the response variable. Some responses have circadian-controlled inputs which add time-dependent complexities to the models. Kinetic/dynamic data for several corticosteroid effects yield IC50 values which agree well with receptor KD values. A relationship of linear AUC of effect versus log AUC of steroid in plasma is found with these models over a large range of doses. Gene-mediated effects of corticosteroids are initiated by receptor-binding which causes a cascade effect altering DNA transcription, RNA, mRNA and proteins or enzymes accounting for drug effects. Models for such behavior have been developed in animals for hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) enzyme activity. Studies with methylprednisolone formulated in liposomes show tissue sequestration of steroid, prolonged receptor-binding and extended inhibition of splenocyte proliferation. The data and models usually show good correspondence of the AUC of receptor occupancy with the AUC of pharmacologic response.

Physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of liposomal tacrolimus (FK 506) in rats

PURPOSE

Tacrolimus (FK 506) is a new potent immunosuppressant. Because of poor water solubility, the conventional intravenous dosage forms of FK 506 (C-FK 506) contain surfactants such as HCO-60 which may cause adverse effects. We sought a liposomal formulation of FK 506 (L-FK 506) containing endogenous phospholipids to target drug to the spleen, a major organ controlling the immune system.

METHODS

L-FK 506, consisting of 0.1 micron diameter vesicles of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol (molar ratio 9:1) and 7.5 mole% drug, was evaluated for in vitro stability. The intravenous disposition profile, spleen distribution, and immunosuppression of L-FK 506 was compared with that of C-FK 506 in the rat after single doses of 0.3 mg/kg.

RESULTS

The L-FK 506 showed good in vitro stability. L-FK 506 exhibited an increased volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss) (from 3.41 to 14.71 L/kg) and increased mean residence time (MRT) (from 2.83 to 16.07 hr). FK 506 concentrations in spleen were increased by 40% at 10 hr after administration of the liposomal formulation. The pharmacodynamics of L-FK 506, evaluated by the extent of inhibition of splenocyte proliferation, was comparable to that of C-FK 506.

CONCLUSIONS

Liposomal FK 506 may be an improved dosage form for parenteral use.