P-glycoprotein restricts the penetration of oseltamivir across the blood-brain barrier.
Oseltamivir is an ethyl ester prodrug of [3R,4R,5S]-4-acetamido-5-amino-3-(1-ethylpropoxy)-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylate phosphate (Ro 64-0802), the anti-influenza drug. Abnormal behavior has been suspected to be associated with oseltamivir medication in Japan. The purpose of the present study is to examine the involvement of transporters in the brain distribution of oseltamivir and its active form Ro 64-0802 across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The brain-to-plasma concentration ratio (K(p,brain)) of oseltamivir after i.v. infusion of oseltamivir in FVB mice was increased by pretreatment with N-(4-[2-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dimethoxy-2-isoquinolinyl)ethyl]-phenyl)-9,10-dihydro-5-methoxy-9-oxo-4-acridine carboxamide (GF120918), a dual inhibitor for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp), whereas that of Ro 64-0802 was only slightly increased. Furthermore, the distribution volume of Ro 64-0802 following i.v. administration of Ro 64-0802 in the brain was similar to the capillary volume, suggesting its minimal distribution. The K(p,brain) value of oseltamivir in multidrug-resistant (Mdr) 1a/1b P-gp knockout mice was 5.5-fold higher than that in wild-type mice and comparable with that obtained by pretreatment with GF120918, whereas it was unchanged in Bcrp knockout mice. The K(p,brain) value of oseltamivir was significantly higher in newborn rats, which is in good agreement with the ontogenetic expression profile of P-gp. Intracellular accumulation of oseltamivir was lower in human and mouse P-gp-expressing cells, which was reversed by P-gp inhibitor valspodar (PSC833). These results suggest that P-gp limits the brain uptake of oseltamivir at the BBB and that Ro 64-0802 itself barely crosses the BBB. However, it may be possible that Ro 64-0802 is formed in the brain from the oseltamivir, considering the presence of carboxylesterase in the brain endothelial cells.
The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Atsushi
A
Ose
Hiroyuki
H
Kusuhara
Kenzo
K
Yamatsugu
Motomu
M
Kanai
Masakatsu
M
Shibasaki
Takuya
T
Fujita
Akira
A
Yamamoto
Yuichi
Y
Sugiyama
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081:Acetamides / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000166:Acridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D018374:LLC-PK1 Cells; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013552:Swine; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000097202:ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000081:Acetamides; D000166:Acridines; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir; D011355:Prodrugs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000097202:ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4; C501412:Abcg2 protein, mouse; C403132:Ro 64-0802; C095122:multidrug resistance protein 3; C083501:Elacridar