Potential impact of underlying diseases influencing ADME in nonclinical safety assessment

Nonclinical studies involve in vitro, in silico, and in vivo experiments to assess the toxicokinetics, toxicology, and safety pharmacology of drugs according to regulatory requirements by a national or international authority. In this review, we summarize the potential effects of various underlying diseases governing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs to consider the use of animal models of diseases in nonclinical trials. Obesity models showed alterations in hepatic metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and renal pathophysiology, which increase the risk of drug-induced toxicity. Diabetes models displayed changes in hepatic metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and glomerular filtration rates (GFR), leading to variability in drug responses and susceptibility to toxicity. Animal models of advanced age exhibited impairment of drug metabolism and kidney function, thereby reducing the drug-metabolizing capacity and clearance. Along with changes in hepatic metabolic enzymes, animal models of metabolic syndrome-related hypertension showed renal dysfunction, resulting in a reduced GFR and urinary excretion of drugs. Taken together, underlying diseases can induce dysfunction of organs involved in the ADME of drugs, ultimately affecting toxicity. Therefore, the use of animal models of representative underlying diseases in nonclinical toxicity studies can be considered to improve the predictability of drug side effects before clinical trials.

Key Role of Porcine Cytochrome P450 2A19 in the Bioactivation of Aflatoxin B1 in the Liver

The metabolic transformation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in pigs remains understudied, presenting a gap in our toxicological understanding compared with extensive human-based research. Here, we found that the main products of AFB1 in porcine liver microsomes (PLMs) were AFB1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO), the generation of which correlated strongly with the protein levels and activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A and CYP2A. In addition, we found that porcine CYP2A19 can transform AFB1 into AFBO, and its metabolic activity was stronger than the other CYPs we have reported, including CYP1A2, CYP3A29, and CYP3A46. Furthermore, we stably transfected all identified CYPs in HepLi cells and found that CYP2A19 stable transfected HepLi cells showed more sensitivity in AFB1-induced DNA adducts, DNA damage, and γH2AX formation than the other three stable cell lines. Moreover, the CYP2A19 N297A mutant that lost catalytic activity toward AFB1 totally eliminated AFB1-induced AFB1-DNA adducts and γH2AX formations in CYP2A19 stable transfected HepLi cells. These results indicate that CYP2A19 mainly mediated AFB1-induced cytotoxicity through metabolizing AFB1 into a highly reactive AFBO, promoting DNA adduct formation and DNA damage, and lastly leading to cell death. This study advances the current understanding of AFB1 bioactivation in pigs and provides a promising target to reduce porcine aflatoxicosis.

Hepatic Cytochrome P450 Abundance and Activity in the Developing and Adult Göttingen Minipig: Pivotal Data for PBPK Modeling

The Göttingen Minipig is gaining ground as nonrodent species in safety testing of drugs for pediatric indications. Due to developmental changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are built to better predict drug exposure in children and to aid species selection for nonclinical safety studies. These PBPK models require high quality physiological and ADME data such as protein abundance of drug metabolizing enzymes. These data are available for man and rat, but scarce for the Göttingen Minipig. The aim of this study was to assess hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) protein abundance in the developing Göttingen Minipig by using mass spectrometry. In addition, sex-related differences in CYP protein abundance and correlation of CYP enzyme activity with CYP protein abundance were assessed. The following age groups were included: gestational day (GD) 84–86 (n = 8), GD 108 (n = 6), postnatal day (PND) 1 (n = 8), PND 3 (n = 8), PND 7 (n = 8), PND 28 (n = 8) and adult (n = 8). Liver microsomes were extracted and protein abundance was compared to that in adult animals. Next, the CYP protein abundance was correlated to CYP enzyme activity in the same biological samples. In general, CYP protein abundance gradually increased during development. However, we observed a stable protein expression over time for CYP4A24 and CYP20A1 and for CYP51A1, a high protein expression during the fetal stages was followed by a decrease during the first month of life and an increase toward adulthood. Sex-related differences were observed for CYP4V2_2a and CYP20A1 at PND 1 with highest expression in females for both isoforms. In the adult samples, sex-related differences were detected for CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2A19, CYP2E1_2, CYP3A22, CYP4V2_2a and CYP4V2_2b with higher values in female compared to male Göttingen Minipigs. The correlation analysis between CYP protein abundance and CYP enzyme activity showed that CYP3A22 protein abundance correlated clearly with the metabolism of midazolam at PND 7. These data are remarkably comparable to human data and provide a valuable step forward in the construction of a neonatal and juvenile Göttingen Minipig PBPK model.

Midazolam oxidation in cattle liver microsomes: The role of cytochrome P450 3A

In humans, the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) subfamily is involved in midazolam (MDZ) biotransformation into 1'- and 4-hydroxy metabolites, and the former serves as a probe for CYP3A catalytic activity. In veterinary species is still crucial to identify enzyme- and species-specific CYP substrates; thus, the aim of this study was to characterize MDZ oxidation in cattle liver. A HPLC-UV method was used to measure 1'- and 4-hydroxy MDZ (1'- and 4-OHMDZ, respectively) formation in cattle liver microsomes and assess the role of CYP3A by an immunoinhibition study. Moreover, MDZ hydroxylation was evaluated in 300 cattle liver samples and results were correlated with testosterone hydroxylation. Formation of both metabolites conformed to a single-enzyme Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Values of V_max and K_m were 0.67 nmol/min/mg protein and 6.16 μM for 4-OHMDZ, and 0.06 nmol/min/mg protein and 10.08 μM for 1'-OHMDZ. An anti-rat CYP3A1 polyclonal antibody inhibited up to 50% and 94% 1'- and 4-OHMDZ formation, respectively. MDZ oxidation in liver microsomes was poorly correlated with testosterone hydroxylation. In conclusion, cattle metabolized MDZ to 1'-OHMDZ and 4-OHMDZ. The immunoinhibition results indicated a major contribution of CYP3As to 4-OHMDZ formation and the involvement of other CYPs in 1'-OHMDZ production, paving the way for further investigations.

Porcine cytochrome P450 3A: current status on expression and regulation

The cytochrome P450s (CYPs) constitute a family of enzymes maintaining vital functions in the body and are mostly recognized for their significant role in detoxification. Of the CYP subfamilies, CYP3A, is one of the most active in the clearance of drugs and other xenobiotics. During the last decades, much focus has been on exploring different models for human CYP3A regulation, expression and activity. In that respect, the growing knowledge of the porcine CYP3As is of great interest. Although many aspects of porcine CYP3A regulation and activity are still unknown, the current literature provides a basic understanding of the porcine CYP3As that can be used e.g., when translating results from studies done in the porcine model into human settings. In this review, the current knowledge about porcine CYP3A expression, regulation, activity and metabolic significance are highlighted. Future research needs are also identified.

In Vivo Metabolism of Ibuprofen in Growing Conventional Pigs: A Pharmacokinetic Approach

The juvenile conventional pig has been suggested as a preclinical animal model to evaluate pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and safety parameters in children. However, a lot of developmental changes in pig physiology still need to be unraveled. While the in vitro ontogeny of pig biotransformation enzymes is getting more attention in literature, the in vivo developmental changes have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the biotransformation of ibuprofen (IBU) in conventional pigs aged 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6–7 months after a single intravenous and oral administration of 5 mg/kg body weight (BW) of IBU, using a PK approach in a crossover design for each age group. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to determine 2-hydroxyibuprofen (2OH-IBU), carboxyibuprofen (COOH-IBU), and ibuprofen glucuronide (IBU-GlcA) in pig plasma. All three metabolites could be quantified in plasma and the following PK parameters were determined: C_max, T_max, AUC_0→6h, area under plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) ratio between parent drug and metabolite, and the absolute oral bioavailability of the parent drug IBU. The plasma concentrations of the metabolites were always lower than those of IBU. The bioavailability was high, indicating limited pre-systemic biotransformation. The AUC ratio of 2OH-IBU and COOH-IBU/IBU showed a significant increase at 4 weeks of age compared to the 1-week-old and 6- to 7-month-old pigs. Interestingly, the IBU-GlcA/IBU AUC ratio did not change with age. The present study demonstrated that the main metabolites of IBU in human are also present in growing pigs. The oxidative phase I metabolism of IBU in growing conventional pigs did change with age. In contrast, age did not seem to affect the glucuronidation capacity of IBU in conventional pigs, although more studies with other substrate drugs are needed to confirm this.

Developmental Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Ibuprofen and Its Enantiomers in the Conventional Pig as Potential Pediatric Animal Model

Pediatric drug development, especially in disease areas that only affect children, can be stimulated by using juvenile animal models not only for general safety studies, but also to gain knowledge on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the drug. Recently, the conventional growing piglet has been suggested as juvenile animal model. However, more studies with different classes of drugs are warranted to make a thorough evaluation whether the juvenile pig might be a suitable preclinical animal model. Ibuprofen is one of the most widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in human. The present study determined the PK parameters, gastro-intestinal and renal safety of 5 mg/kg BW ibuprofen after single intravenous, single oral and multiple oral administration to each time eight pigs (four males, four females) aging 1, 4, 8 weeks and 6–7 months. Oral administration was performed via a gastrostomy button. A jugular catheter was used for intravenous administration and blood sampling. To assess NSAID induced renal toxicity, renal function was evaluated using iohexol and p-aminohippuric acid as markers for glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow, respectively. After the trial, necropsy and histology was performed to evaluate macroscopic and microscopic gastro-intestinal as well as renal lesions. Both enantiomers, R-ibuprofen and S-ibuprofen, were determined in plasma using an in-house developed and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using compartmental analysis. Clearance and volume of distribution of total ibuprofen and both enantiomers increased with age as was observed in human. The rate of stereochemical conversion decreased with age. Multiple oral dosing decreased the absolute oral bioavailability and maximum plasma concentration of R-ibuprofen and food consumption did not influence drug absorption. Based on the limited available pediatric literature, the current study might suggest the conventional pig as suitable animal model to evaluate NSAIDs for pediatric use.

The Ontogeny of Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Activity and Protein Abundance in Conventional Pigs in Support of Preclinical Pediatric Drug Research

Since the implementation of several legislations to improve pediatric drug research, more pediatric clinical trials are being performed. In order to optimize these pediatric trials, adequate preclinical data are necessary, which are usually obtained by juvenile animal models. The growing piglet has been increasingly suggested as a potential animal model due to a high degree of anatomical and physiological similarities with humans. However, physiological data in pigs on the ontogeny of major organs involved in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs are largely lacking. The aim of this study was to unravel the ontogeny of porcine hepatic drug metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP450) activities as well as protein abundances. Liver microsomes from 16 conventional pigs (8 males and 8 females) per age group: 2 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6-7 months were prepared. Activity measurements were performed with substrates of major human CYP450 enzymes: midazolam (CYP3A), tolbutamide (CYP2C), and chlorzoxazone (CYP2E). Next, the hepatic scaling factor, microsomal protein per gram liver (MPPGL), was determined to correct for enzyme losses during the fractionation process. Finally, protein abundance was determined using proteomics and correlated with enzyme activity. No significant sex differences within each age category were observed in enzyme activity or MPPGL. The biotransformation rate of all three substrates increased with age, comparable with human maturation of CYP450 enzymes. The MPPGL decreased from birth till 8 weeks of age followed by an increase till 6-7 months of age. Significant sex differences in protein abundance were observed for CYP1A2, CYP2A19, CYP3A22, CYP4V2, CYP2C36, CYP2E_1, and CYP2E_2. Midazolam and tolbutamide are considered good substrates to evaluate porcine CYP3A/2C enzymes, respectively. However, chlorzoxazone is not advised to evaluate porcine CYP2E enzyme activity. The increase in biotransformation rate with age can be attributed to an increase in absolute amount of CYP450 proteins. Finally, developmental changes were observed regarding the involvement of specific CYP450 enzymes in the biotransformation of the different substrates.

Age-related change of hepatic uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase and sulfotransferase activities in male chickens and pigs

The hepatic activities of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and sulfotransferase (SULT) of male Ross 708 broiler chickens at the age of 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days and male Camborough-29 pigs at the age of 1 day and 2, 5, 10, and 20 weeks were investigated. Glucuronidation and sulfation of 4-nitrophenol were used to evaluate the activities. Porcine hepatic UGT and SULT activities were low at birth, peaked at around 5-10 weeks, and then declined. Both hepatic UGT and SULT activities of chickens were high at hatch and declined. Chicken hepatic UGT activity had a peak at the age of 28 days. Affinity of hepatic SULT to 4-nitrophenol is similar in chickens and pigs, but the affinity of hepatic UGT in pigs was about 10 times higher than that in chickens. 4-nitrophenol was predominantly conjugated by SULT instead of UGT in chicken livers from hatch to day 56. Conversely, hepatic UGT contributed predominantly in 4-nitrophenol conjugation than the SULT in pigs from birth to 20 weeks. Therefore, age has significant impact on hepatic activities of UGT and SULT, and the importance of UGT and SULT on conjugation is different in chickens and pigs.

Constitutive expression of cytochrome P450 in foetal and adult porcine livers-Effects of body weight

The liver hosts a great number of enzymatically driven processes, including detoxification. The super-family of enzymes named cytochrome P450 (CYP) is the major participant in that process. The expression of CYPs is affected by several factors including life-stage (foetal vs. adult). In the present study we investigated the impact of birth-weight (high or low birth weight) and life-stage on constitutive expression of porcine hepatic CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2A19, CYP2B22, CYP2C33, CYP2D25, CYP2E1 and CYP3A29, as well as the transcription factors controlling their expression; aryl hydrocarbon receptor, constitutive androstane receptor, pregnane X receptor, C/EBP and hepatocyte nuclear factors 1 and 4. Both RT-PCR and western blotting showed a marked increase in the expression of the adult pigs compared with prenatal pigs. Moreover, CYP2E1 mRNA expression was 7.5 fold higher in foetuses with low birth weight compared with foetuses with high birth weight. Gender did not affect the mRNA expression within the different life-stages. These results indicate a similarity to what is observed in humans and porcine foetuses may therefore be a model for humans when studying expression of CYPs.