title: Limited interaction between tacrolimus and P-glycoprotein in the rat small intestine.
abstract: The significance of intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in determining the oral bioavailability of tacrolimus has been still controversial. In this study, we reevaluated the interaction of tacrolimus with P-gp in the rat small intestine, by evaluating its absorption from the rat small intestine and its modulating effect on the absorption of known P-gp substrates (digoxin, methylprednisolone, and vinblastine). Intestinal absorption of tacrolimus itself was as extensive as other P-gp modulators such as cyclosporine and verapamil. While cyclosporine and verapamil significantly increased the absorption of methylprednisolone and vinblastine through potent inhibition of intestinal P-gp, tacrolimus failed to achieve this. When cyclosporine and tacrolimus were intravenously administered to rats, digoxin absorption was significantly increased by cyclosporine but not by tacrolimus. When tacrolimus was coadministered with clotrimazole, a specific CYP3A inhibitor, into the rat small intestine, the area under the curve of tacrolimus blood concentrations increased more than seven-fold compared with that of tacrolimus alone. Our present results strongly suggest that the interaction between tacrolimus and P-gp is limited in the rat small intestine and that extensive metabolism by CYP3A enzymes is more responsible for the low oral bioavailability of tacrolimus. It was considered that the extensive absorption of cyclosporine and verapamil was closely associated with their potent ability to inhibit intestinal P-gp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan. saitoh@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saikachi
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuhki
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Achiwa
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tadano
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Bruce J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Aungst
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004077:Digoxin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011374:Progesterone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011374:Progesterone; D014747:Vinblastine; D004077:Digoxin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D014700:Verapamil; D016559:Tacrolimus; D008775:Methylprednisolone