Inhibition of P-glycoprotein transport function by grapefruit juice psoralen.
OBJECTIVE
The grapefruit juice component bergamottin is known to inactivate cytochrome P450 3A4, with grapefruit juice consumption causing increased absorption and enhanced oral bioavailability of many cytochrome P450 3A4 substrates. Many of these substrates are also recognized by the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein. The gene product of MDR1 (multidrug resistance transporter), P-glycoprotein also confers protection against xenobiotics.


METHODS
Using a whole ceil assay in which the retention of a marker substrate is evaluated and quantified, we studied the ability of grapefruit juice components to inhibit the function of this transporter.


RESULTS
In a cell line presenting an overexpressed amount of the human transporter, the enzyme exhibited a 40 microM IC50 for inhibition by bergamottin. Additionally, using the ATP-hydrolysis assay, we showed that bergamottin increases P-gp-mediated ATP hydrolysis by approximately 2.3 fold with a Km of 8 microM. The concentration for this interaction is similar to that for CYP3A4 inactivation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that observed grapefruit juice drug pharmacokinetic clinical interactions may be due to P-gp inhibition rather than or in addition to CYP3A4 inhibition. Inhibition of P-gp by citrus psoralens could present ways both to enhance bioavailability of therapies without increasing the dose and to diminish drug resistance in refractory cells.
Wang
E J
EJ
Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Schering-Plough Research Institute, Lafayette, New Jersey 07848, USA.
Casciano
C N
CN
Clement
R P
RP
Johnson
W W
WW
D016475:3T3 Cells; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D001628:Beverages; D002460:Cell Line; D002957:Citrus; D005363:Ficusin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D011564:Furocoumarins; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011794:Quercetin; C068337:bergamottin; D005363:Ficusin; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride