Pharmacokinetics of PSC 833 (valspodar) in its Cremophor EL formulation in rat

HIV-1 Tat and opioids act independently to limit antiretroviral brain concentrations and reduce blood-brain barrier integrity

Poor antiretroviral penetration may contribute to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persistence within the brain and to neurocognitive deficits in opiate abusers. To investigate this problem, HIV-1 Tat protein and morphine effects on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and drug brain penetration were explored using a conditional HIV-1 Tat transgenic mouse model. Tat and morphine effects on the leakage of fluorescently labeled dextrans (10-, 40-, and 70-kDa) into the brain were assessed. To evaluate effects on antiretroviral brain penetration, Tat+ and Tat- mice received three antiretroviral drugs (dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine) with or without concurrent morphine exposure. Antiretroviral and morphine brain and plasma concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS. Morphine exposure, and, to a lesser extent, Tat, significantly increased tracer leakage from the vasculature into the brain. Despite enhanced BBB breakdown evidenced by increased tracer leakiness, morphine exposure led to significantly lower abacavir concentrations within the striatum and significantly less dolutegravir within the hippocampus and striatum (normalized to plasma). P-glycoprotein, an efflux transporter for which these drugs are substrates, expression and function were significantly increased in the brains of morphine-exposed mice compared to mice not exposed to morphine. These findings were consistent with lower antiretroviral concentrations in brain tissues examined. Lamivudine concentrations were unaffected by Tat or morphine exposure. Collectively, our investigations indicate that Tat and morphine differentially alter BBB integrity. Morphine decreased brain concentrations of specific antiretroviral drugs, perhaps via increased expression of the drug efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein.

A double blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study to examine reduction of CD34 +/CD117 +/CD133 + lymphoma progenitor cells and duration of remission induced by neoadjuvant valspodar in dogs with large B-cell lymphoma

We previously described a population of lymphoid progenitor cells (LPCs) in canine B-cell lymphoma defined by retention of the early progenitor markers CD34 and CD117 and “slow proliferation” molecular signatures that persist in the xenotransplantation setting. We examined whether valspodar, a selective inhibitor of the ATP binding cassette B1 transporter (ABCB1, a.k.a., p-glycoprotein/multidrug resistance protein-1) used in the neoadjuvant setting would sensitize LPCs to doxorubicin and extend the length of remission in dogs with therapy naïve large B-cell lymphoma. Twenty dogs were enrolled into a double-blinded, placebo controlled study where experimental and control groups received oral valspodar (7.5 mg/kg) or placebo, respectively, twice daily for five days followed by five treatments with doxorubicin 21 days apart with a reduction in the first dose to mitigate the potential side effects of ABCB1 inhibition. Lymph node and blood LPCs were quantified at diagnosis, on the fourth day of neoadjuvant period, and 1-week after the first chemotherapy dose. Valspodar therapy was well tolerated. There were no differences between groups in total LPCs in lymph nodes or peripheral blood, nor in event-free survival or overall survival. Overall, we conclude that valspodar can be administered safely in the neoadjuvant setting for canine B-cell lymphoma; however, its use to attenuate ABCB1 ⁺ cells does not alter the composition of lymph node or blood LPCs, and it does not appear to be sufficient to prolong doxorubicin-dependent remissions in this setting.

A double blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study to examine reduction of CD34 +/CD117 +/CD133 + lymphoma progenitor cells and duration of remission induced by neoadjuvant valspodar in dogs with large B-cell lymphoma

We previously described a population of lymphoid progenitor cells (LPCs) in canine B-cell lymphoma defined by retention of the early progenitor markers CD34 and CD117 and "slow proliferation" molecular signatures that persist in the xenotransplantation setting. We examined whether valspodar, a selective inhibitor of the ATP binding cassette B1 transporter (ABCB1, a.k.a., p-glycoprotein/multidrug resistance protein-1) used in the neoadjuvant setting would sensitize LPCs to doxorubicin and extend the length of remission in dogs with therapy naïve large B-cell lymphoma. Twenty dogs were enrolled into a double-blinded, placebo controlled study where experimental and control groups received oral valspodar (7.5 mg/kg) or placebo, respectively, twice daily for five days followed by five treatments with doxorubicin 21 days apart with a reduction in the first dose to mitigate the potential side effects of ABCB1 inhibition. Lymph node and blood LPCs were quantified at diagnosis, on the fourth day of neoadjuvant period, and 1-week after the first chemotherapy dose. Valspodar therapy was well tolerated. There were no differences between groups in total LPCs in lymph nodes or peripheral blood, nor in event-free survival or overall survival. Overall, we conclude that valspodar can be administered safely in the neoadjuvant setting for canine B-cell lymphoma; however, its use to attenuate ABCB1 ⁺ cells does not alter the composition of lymph node or blood LPCs, and it does not appear to be sufficient to prolong doxorubicin-dependent remissions in this setting.

Effect of magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 and wogonin on the reversal of multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cell line

BACKGROUND

Multidrug resistance is the main obstacle to the efficiency of systemic chemotherapy against hematologic malignancy. This study investigated the reversible effect of the copolymer wogonin and daunorubicin coloaded into Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles, and the mechanism potentially involved.

METHODS

The growth inhibition rate of K562/A02 cells was investigated by MTT assay, and apoptosis of cells and the intracellular daunorubicin concentration were detected by flow cytometry. Distribution of nanoparticles taken up by K562/A02 cells was observed under a transmission electron microscope and demonstrated by Prussian blue staining. The transcription level of MDR1 mRNA and expression of P-glycoprotein were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting assay, respectively.

RESULTS

The reversible effect of daunorubicin-wogonin magnetic nanoparticles was 8.87-fold that of daunorubicin + wogonin and of daunorubicin magnetic nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and Prussian blue staining revealed that the nanoparticles were located in the endosome vesicles of cytoplasm. Also, the apoptosis rate and accumulation of intracellular daunorubicin in the daunorubicin-wogonin magnetic nanoparticle group were significantly higher than that in the daunorubicin, daunorubicin + wogonin, and daunorubicin magnetic nanoparticle groups. Furthermore, transcription of MDR1 mRNA and expression of P-glycoprotein in K562/A02 cells were significantly downregulated in the daunorubicin-wogonin magnetic nanoparticle group compared with the other groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the remarkable effects of the novel daunorubicin-wogonin magnetic nanoparticle formulation on multidrug resistant K562/A02 leukemia cells would be a promising strategy for overcoming multidrug resistance.