Re: 'Pharmacokinetic interactions between sildenafil and saquinavir/ritonavir'.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D J Back.
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The era of antiviral therapy directed against HIV-1 has now entered its second decade. In the twelve years since the FDA approved the first antiretroviral drug zidovudine there have been a number of seminal developments that have revolutionized the approach to therapy. These advances converged to change the treatment paradigm from one of therapeutic nihilism to that of cautious optimism. First, several trials demonstrated that combination therapy of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) is superior to monotherapy in extending survival and delaying disease progression. Second, the concept of virologic latency in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients was revised. Mathematic modelling demonstrated that there is an ongoing high level of virus production driving a rapid turnover of CD4 cells at all stages of infection. Hence it was concluded that the aim of antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be to "hit early and hit hard." Third, significant advances in molecular virology facilitated the development of quantitative methods to measure the circulating HIV plasma RNA. HIV viral load has been shown to be a sensitive predictor of disease progression and a valuable marker of response to therapy. However, none of these developments would have translated into improved patient care without the advent of two new classes of drugs-the protease inhibitors (PIs) and the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
We assessed the pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (ZDV) in plasma and intracellular ZDV phosphate anabolites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Thai human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-infected patients and healthy volunteers. The plasma ZDV area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 6 h (AUC(0-6)) was similar in patients and healthy volunteers (32.77 and 22.77 micromol/liter. h, respectively; confidence interval, -3.37 to 19. 92). Although the concentration of ZDV triphosphate (ZDVTP) was similar in the two groups, the ZDV monophosphate (ZDVMP) AUC(0-6) was significantly greater in HIV patients (1.12 pmol/10(6) cells) than in healthy volunteers (0.15 pmol/10(6) cells). In agreement with previously published data obtained with Caucasians, the significant difference in intracellular phosphorylation in Thai volunteers and HIV patients is primarily due to ZDVMP. Comparing the data from this study with the data obtained with Caucasians suggests no marked ethnic differences in ZDV phosphorylation.
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OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in HIV-infected men is estimated to be 33%. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra; Pfizer Ltd, Sandwich, Kent, UK) is the first oral drug for this condition. Since sildenafil and the protease inhibitors are both metabolized by, and act as inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of the combination sildenafil plus indinavir in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Six patients at steady state in treatment with indinavir participated in the study. On the first day blood samples for indinavir assay were drawn at times 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 h after dosing. On the second study day patients received a single dose of 25 mg of sildenafil in addition to their routine morning medication. Blood samples were taken as described. Separated plasma was stored at -80 degrees C until analysis by high performance liquid chromatography. In a parallel study, the effect of indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir on the in vitro hepatic metabolism of sildenafil was assessed. RESULTS: The geometric mean area under the concentration curve for 0-8 h (AUC0-8h) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) for indinavir were 19.69 microg/ml h (range, 9.19-31.99 microg/ml h) and 7.02 microg/ml (range, 2.33-16.17 microg/ml), respectively, on the first study day. In the presence of sildenafil, the mean AUC0-8h and Cmax of indinavir were 22.37 microg/ml h [range, 10.08-37.25 microg/ml h; 95% confidence interval (CI) for difference between means, -15 to 13.25) and 9.11 microg/ml (range, 3.41-22.78 microg/ml; 95% CI, -13 to 6.37), respectively. The geometric mean AUC0-8h and Cmax for sildenafil were 1631 ng/ml h (range, 643-2970 ng/ml h) and 384 ng/ml (range, 209-766 ng/ml) respectively. The AUC for sildenafil was 4.4 times higher than data from historical controls given either 50 mg or 100 mg of sildenafil and dose normalized to 25 mg. Indinavir was a potent inhibitor of sildenafil hepatic metabolism in vitro [concentration producing 50% inhibition of control enzyme activity (IC50) = 0.39 +/- 0.17 microM, mean +/- SD]. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of sildenafil 25 mg did not significantly alter the plasma indinavir levels. However, plasma sildenafil AUC was markedly increased in the presence of indinavir compared with historical controls. From the in vitro data, the mechanism of increase is indinavir inhibition of the hepatic metabolism of sildenafil. The magnitude of this interaction suggests a lower starting dose of sildenafil may be more appropriate in this clinical setting.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of the protease inhibitors ritonavir, nelfinavir and indinavir on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated transport of saquinavir in Caco-2 cell monolayers. To study the modulation of P-gp function in human lymphocytes by saquinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir and indinavir. METHODS: We examined the effect of the protease inhibitors on P-gp function in human lymphocytes by using Rhodamine 123 (Rh 123; a fluorescent substrate of P-gp) by flow cytometry. Efflux of Rh 123 correlates with P-gp function and inhibition of P-gp results in dye retention. Verapamil, a P-gp modulator and inhibitor of active transport at 4 degrees C was used as a positive control. The transport of [14C]saquinavir (1 microM) across Caco-2 cell monolayers was investigated, alone and in the presence of verapamil and ketoconazole (500 microM) and the protease inhibitors at 100 microM. Caco-2 cells are an in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium that is widely used for the study of P-gp function. The transport of saquinavir was determined in both the apical to basolateral (AP-BL) and basolateral to apical (BL-AP) directions. RESULTS: Saquinavir and ritonavir (10 microM) markedly inhibited Rh 123 efflux with an increase in fluorescence intensity similar to that obtained with verapamil. A small but statistically significant increase in fluorescence intensity was observed with nelfinavir; however indinavir did not modulate Rh 123 efflux. In Caco-2 cells the apparent permeability coefficient for BL-AP efflux of saquinavir exceeded that for AP-BL efflux by a factor of 26: this is indicative of an active efflux pump. Known P-gp modulators caused a decrease in BL-AP efflux and an increase in AP-BL transport. The protease inhibitors displayed some P-gp modulation with ritonavir having the most potent effect. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that saquinavir is a substrate for P-gp and that ritonavir, nelfinavir and indinavir modulate P-gp function in both human lymphocytes and Caco-2 cells.
Thirteen protease inhibitor-naive patients with HIV-1 infection, and 12 patients with a median of 58 months prior treatment with saquinavir (SQV) monotherapy, were treated with SQV (400 mg twice daily) and ritonavir (RIT, 500 mg twice daily) in a study designed to assess the effect of prior treatment with SQV monotherapy on the antiretroviral activity of RIT-SQV combination therapy. Median baseline viral load and CD4+ cell counts were 155,000 and 262,000 copies/ml and 333 and 225 cells/mm3 in the naive and experienced groups, respectively. Mean viral load changes at 24 weeks were -1.63 and -0.27 log copies/ml in the naive and SQV-experienced groups, respectively (intent-to-treat analysis). Baseline genotype by point mutation assay and sequencing in the SQV-experienced group was highly predictive of virological response. Eight of 11 SQV-experienced patients had evidence of phenotypic resistance to RIT at baseline, despite previous treatment with SQV only. There was strong correlation between phenotypic resistance to RIT and the presence of the L90M mutation. We conclude that prolonged prior treatment with saquinavir monotherapy may produce cross-resistance to ritonavir and reduce the subsequent response to ritonavir-saquinavir in combination. In this study, both phenotypic resistance to ritonavir and presence of the L90M mutation predicted the viral load response to ritonavir-saquinavir.
Didanosine (2',3'-dideoxyinosine; ddI) requires intracellular metabolism to its active triphosphate, 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (ddATP), to inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We have investigated the metabolism of ddI to ddATP in the presence and absence of a range of compounds. In addition, we determined the levels of the endogenous competitor of ddATP, 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (dATP), and calculated ddATP/dATP ratios. None of the nucleoside analogs studied had any effect on ddI phosphorylation at 1 and 10 microM concentrations. At 100 microM concentrations, ddC reduced total ddA phosphates (82% of control total ddA phosphates; p < 0.001). ZDV significantly decreased the levels of dATP, whereas ddC significantly increased dATP pools (e.g., at 100 microM ZDV, 82% of control dATP levels; p < 0.001). Hence, the ddATP/dATP ratio was increased in the presence of ZDV, but was decreased in the presence of ddC. Neither d4T nor 3TC affected the ddATP/dATP ratio. Deoxyinosine (dI) significantly reduced ddA phosphate production at 100 microM concentrations, with ddATP reduced to undetectable levels (p < 0.001). Hydroxyurea (HU) did not affect the activation of ddI, but significantly reduced dATP pools at 100 microM concentrations (67% of control dATP levels; p < 0.001), enhancing the ddATP/dATP ratio. ddA phosphate production was significantly reduced by pentoxyfylline (PXF) at 10 and 100 microM concentrations. dATP levels were unaffected, but the ddATP/dATP ratio was reduced. Finally, 8-aminoguanosine (8-AMG) had no effect on either ddI activation or dATP pools. These studies demonstrate the importance of determining both the active TP and the competing endogenous TP, as changes to the resulting ratio could alter the efficacy of the nucleoside analog in question.
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Anti-HIV drug regimens can fail for a number of reasons including virological resistance, difficulties of adherence and poor tolerability. However, this brief review focuses on the development of "pharmacological" resistance as an area of great importance in drug failure. For nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) this is related to the possible down-regulation of the intracellular phosphorylation of an NRTI with time. For protease inhibitors the concern is cells expressing transmembrane energy-dependent transporters (such as p-glycoprotein, p-gp; or multi-drug resistance protein, MRP) which efflux drug (particularly protease inhibitors) out of the cell so that intracellular concentrations of drug are insufficient for antiviral effect.
AIMS: Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) are both expressed in the intestinal mucosa and present a barrier to oral drug delivery. CYP3A4 and P-gp share both overlapping tissue distribution and substrate specificity. Grapefruit juice interactions with CYP3A4 substrates are well documented and occur as a consequence of down regulation of intestinal CYP3A4. The aim of the present study was to screen grapefruit juice components against the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism and P-gp mediated transport of the HIV-1 protease inhibitor saquinavir. METHODS: Five grapefruit juice components: quercetin, naringin, naringenin, 6', 7'-dihydroxybergamottin and bergamottin were screened as potential inhibitors of the metabolism of saquinavir by human liver microsomes. The known CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole was also screened for inhibitory potential. These compounds were also screened as modulators of P-gp activity by assessing the directional transport of saquinavir across Caco-2 cell monolayers which express P-gp. The effect of verapamil, a known modulator of P-gp function, was also determined in these cell lines. RESULTS: On preincubation, 6', 7'-dihydroxybergamottin and bergamottin inhibited the metabolism of saquinavir, with IC50 values of 0.33+/-0.23 muM and 0.74+/-0.13 muM, respectively (n=3). Ketoconazole achieved an IC50 of 0. 55+/-0.12 muM (n=4). The other compounds studied failed to reach IC50 at concentrations of up to 100 muM. The transport of saquinavir in the basolateral-->apical (BL-->AP) direction exceeded that in the apical -->basolateral direction (AP-->BL), with apparent permeability coefficients of 199.2+/-15.8x10-7 cm s-1 and 8.00+/-1. 13x10-7 cm s-1, respectively (n=3) which is indicative of a polarized efflux mechanism. The ratio of BL-->AP/AP-->BL for saquinavir was 25, but in the presence of verapamil and ketoconazole this ratio was reduced to 3.6 and 4.0, respectively (n=3), indicating extensive inhibition of P-gp mediated saquinavir efflux. Of the grapefruit juice components studied only naringin and 6', 7'-dihydroxybergamottin had any appreciable effect, reducing the ratio to 7.6 and 7.1, respectively (n=3); but this was due solely to increased AP-->BL transport. CONCLUSIONS: Grapefruit juice components inhibit CYP3A4-mediated saquinavir metabolism and also modulate, to a limited extent, P-gp mediated saquinavir transport in Caco-2 cell monolayers. The in vivo effects of grapefruit juice coadministration are most likely the result of effects on CYP3A4 (inhibition and down regulation) and only to a minor extent on modulation of P-gp function.
1. D0870, an azole antifungal agent, produced dose-related increases in total cytochrome P450 and aldrin epoxidase when administered as 14 daily oral doses (0, 0.5, 2.5 and 12.5 mg/kg/day) to the male rat. Administered as single doses, D0870 increased pentobarbitone-sleeping time in a dose-related manner. 2. In human hepatic microsomal incubations, D0870 produced pronounced inhibition of CYP2C9 (tolbutamide hydroxylase) and, to a lesser degree, CYP3A4 (testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase), but had more limited effects on CYP1A2, 2C19 and 2D6 activity. In comparison with ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole, D0870 was the most potent inhibitor of CYP2C9 activity. It is predicted that D0870 may inhibit the in vivo clearance of CYP2C9 substrates by approximately 58%, thereby increasing their steady-state concentrations by 2.4 times, which would be of clinical significance for some compounds. 3. During incubation of [14C]-D0870 with cultured human hepatocytes for up to 72 h, two discrete metabolites (A and B) were formed. Formation of metabolite A was abolished by both quinidine and ketoconazole and is probably CYP3A4-mediated, whereas generation of metabolite B did not appear to be dependent on cytochrome P450. 4. D0870 has potential to produce both induction and inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes in man.
Sulphamethoxazole undergoes CYP2C9-mediated bioactivation to a hydroxylamine. In this study, we investigated the effect of the CYP2C9Arg144 to Cys (CYP2C9*2) and CYP2C9Ile359 to Leu (CYP2C9*3) polymorphisms on sulphamethoxazole N-hydroxylation. Human livers were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Formation of sulphamethoxazole hydroxylamine and methylhydroxy tolbutamide in microsomes prepared from cell lines and the genotyped human livers was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Microsomes prepared from the cell line expressing the allelic variants CYP2C9-Cys144 and CYP2C9-Leu359 displayed a threefold and 20-fold decrease in intrinsic clearance (Cl(int)) for sulphamethoxazole, respectively, when compared with the wild-type, CYP2C9-Arg144. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in Cl(int) was also observed with tolbutamide for both mutations. Of the 26 human livers genotyped, 61.5% were homozygous wild-type, 26.9% were heterozygotes for CYP2C9*2 and 15.4% were heterozygotes for CYP2C9*3. No homozygous mutant livers were detected. There was a good correlation between sulphamethoxazole N-hydroxylation and tolbutamide methyl hydroxylation (r = 0.825). However, there was no difference in the kinetic parameters for either sulphamethoxazole N-hydroxylation or tolbutamide methyl hydroxylation between the wild type livers (n = 6) and either the livers heterozygous for the CYP2C9*2 (n = 5) or the livers heterozygous for the CYP2C9*3 mutation (n = 3). The CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 polymorphisms may have some influence on the bioactivation of sulphamethoxazole, particularly in individuals who are homozygous mutants, and this could act as a protective factor against sulphamethoxazole hypersensitivity. However, given the rarity of homozygous mutants, it is likely that other metabolic and immunological risk factors will dominate individual susceptibility.
Zidovudine (ZDV) is converted to its active triphosphate (ZDVTP) by intracellular kinases. The intermediate ZDV monophosphate (ZDVMP) is believed to play a major role in ZDV toxicity. Manipulation of ZDV phosphorylation is a possible therapeutic strategy for altering the risk-benefit ratio. Here we investigate whether combining RBV with ZDV is able to modulate efficacy and toxicity of ZDV. We have measured the intracellular activation of ZDV (0.3 microM) in the absence and presence of ribavirin (RBV; 2 and 20 microM) in Molt 4 and U937 cells. MTT cytotoxicity of ZDV (10-1000 microM) was also measured with and without RBV (2 microM) in Molt 4 and U937 cells. Measurement of endogenous deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) allowed investigation of the dTTP/ZDVTP ratio. The antiviral efficacy of ZDV in combination with RBV (2 microM) was assessed by HIV p24 antigen measurements. In the presence of RBV (2 and 20 microM) a decrease in total ZDV phosphates was observed, owing mainly to an effect primarily on ZDVMP rather than the active ZDVTP. RBV also increased endogenous dTTP pools in both cell types, resulting in an increase in the dTTP/ZDVTP ratio. ZDV alone significantly reduced p24 antigen production, with an IC50 of 0.34 microM. Addition of RBV increased the IC50 approximately fivefold (1.52 microM). However, at higher concentrations of ZDV (10 and 100 microM) the antagonistic effect of RBV (2 microM) on ZDV was lost. The RBV-mediated decrease in ZDVMP may explain the reduction in ZDV toxicity when combined with RBV (2 microM). Cytotoxicity of ZDV was reduced in the presence of RBV (2 microM) at all concentrations in both cell lines, probably owing to saturation of ZDVTP formation. The interaction of ZDV and RBV is concentration dependent.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of nelfinavir (NFV) administered alone and in combination with nevirapine (NVP) to HIV-positive patients. DESIGN: Seven patients with advanced HIV disease received dual nucleoside analogues in addition to NFV (750 mg three times daily) and subsequently NVP (200 mg daily for 2 weeks followed by 200 mg twice daily) as salvage therapy. On the first study day (day 3), blood samples were taken for assay of NFV. The second study day followed the introduction of NVP for 3 weeks. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 h after dosing on both study days. Separated plasma was heated to 58 degrees C for 30 min to inactivate HIV and stored at -80 degrees C until analysis by high performance liquid chromatography for both NFV and NVP. RESULTS: The geometric mean NFV area under the concentration-time curve to 8 h (AUC0-8h) was 23.4 microg x h/ml (range, 13.5-49.2) and 11.6 microg x h/ml (range, 6.6-23.2) on the first and second study days, respectively. The geometric mean ratio was 0.49 (95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.72; P = 0.016). This represented a 50% reduction in plasma NFV concentrations. Maximum and minimum concentrations were also reduced during NVP therapy (from 4.4 to 2.5 microg/ml and from 1.7 to 0.8 microg/ml, respectively). Time to maximum concentration was reduced from 4 to 2 h. NVP concentrations were determined with a maximum concentration of 5.4 microg/ml at 4 h. CONCLUSIONS: NVP is currently being used in combination therapy with protease inhibitors for antiretroviral-experienced patients in the setting of treatment failure. This study demonstrates that when patients are coadministered NVP there is a 50% reduction in the plasma AUC of NFV. Although the mean trough concentrations of NFV remained above the stated minimum effective concentration of 0.4 microg/ml, there is nevertheless concern that some patients will fall below this value when NVP is added to treatment regimens. In the absence of therapeutic drug monitoring we suggest that an increase in the standard NFV dosage of 750 mg three times daily will be required to ensure satisfactory NFV plasma concentrations, thereby maintaining antiviral efficacy.
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AIMS: Combination antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection now involves both nucleoside analogues and protease inhibitors. Since intracellular phosphorylation is essential for the activity of all the nucleoside analogues this study was designed to investigate interactions with protease inhibitors at the intracellular level which may alter antiviral efficacy. METHODS: PHA-stimulated PBMCs (3 x 10[6] cell/plate) and U937 cells (4 x 10[6] cells/plate) were incubated with either radiolabelled zidovudine (ZDV), stavudine (d4T), zalcitabine (ddC), lamivudine (3TC) or didanosine (ddI) in the presence and absence of the protease inhibitors, indinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir (0.1-10 microM) for 24 h. Cells were extracted overnight prior to analysis by radiometric h.p.l.c. Intracellular phosphates were standardised to pmol per million cells. RESULTS: None of the three protease inhibitors tested had any significant effect on the intracellular phosphorylation of the five nucleoside analogues. It is particularly important to focus on the active triphosphate anabolites and data for control vs ritonavir (10 microM) incubations in U937 cells were as follows: ZDVTP, 0.19 +/- 0.02 vs 0.21 +/- 0.2 pmol/10(6) cells (mean +/- s.d.; n = 5); d4TTP, 0.30 +/- 0.13 vs 0.27 +/- 0.26; 3TCTP, 0.32 +/- 0.12 vs 0.26 +/- 0.19; ddCTP, 0.07 +/- 0.04 vs 0.06 +/- 0.02, ddATP, 0.014 +/- 0.003 vs 0.018 +/- 0.006 pmol/10(6) cells. CONCLUSIONS: The protease inhibitors, indinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir have no effect on the enzymes responsible for phosphorylation. Combining protease inhibitors and nucleoside analogues should not lead to any intracellular interactions in vivo.
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