Functionally overlapping roles of Abcg2 (Bcrp1) and Abcc2 (Mrp2) in the elimination of methotrexate and its main toxic metabolite 7-hydroxymethotrexate in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
ABCC2 (MRP2) and ABCG2 (BCRP) transport various endogenous and exogenous compounds, including many anticancer drugs, into bile, feces, and urine. We investigated the possibly overlapping roles of Abcg2 and Abcc2 in the elimination of the anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX) and its toxic metabolite 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7OH-MTX).


METHODS
We generated and characterized Abcc2;Abcg2(-/-) mice, and used these to determine the overlapping roles of Abcc2 and Abcg2 in the elimination of MTX and 7OH-MTX after i.v. administration of 50 mg/kg MTX.


RESULTS
Compared with wild-type, the plasma areas under the curve (AUC) for MTX were 1.6-fold and 2.0-fold higher in Abcg2(-/-) and Abcc2(-/-) mice, respectively, and 3.3-fold increased in Abcc2;Abcg2(-/-) mice. The biliary excretion of MTX was 23-fold reduced in Abcc2;Abcg2(-/-) mice, and the MTX levels in the small intestine were dramatically decreased. Plasma levels of 7OH-MTX were not significantly altered in Abcg2(-/-) mice, but the areas under the curve were 6.2-fold and even 12.4-fold increased in Abcc2(-/-) and Abcc2;Abcg2(-/-) mice, respectively. This indicates that Abcc2 compensates for Abcg2 deficiency but that Abcg2 can only partly compensate for Abcc2 absence. Furthermore, 21-fold decreased biliary 7OH-MTX excretion in Abcc2;Abcg2(-/-) mice and substantial 7OH-MTX accumulation in the liver and kidney were seen. We additionally found that in the absence of Abcc2, Abcg2 mediated substantial urinary excretion of MTX and 7OH-MTX.


CONCLUSIONS
Abcc2 and Abcg2 together are major determinants of MTX and 7OH-MTX pharmacokinetics. Variations in ABCC2 and/or ABCG2 activity due to polymorphisms or coadministered inhibitors may therefore substantially affect the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity in patients treated with MTX.
Vlaming
Maria L H
ML
Divisions of Molecular Biology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, the Netherlands.
Pala
Zeliha
Z
van Esch
Anita
A
Wagenaar
Els
E
de Waart
Dirk R
DR
van de Wetering
Koen
K
van der Kruijssen
Cornelia M M
CM
Oude Elferink
Ronald P J
RP
van Tellingen
Olaf
O
Schinkel
Alfred H
AH
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D008727:Methotrexate; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C501412:Abcg2 protein, mouse; C011864:7-hydroxymethotrexate