title: Carrier-mediated uptake of Levofloxacin by BeWo cells, a human trophoblast cell line.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental transfer of Levofloxacin (LF), a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic, and its inhibition was investigated in BeWo cells, a human trophoblast cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments of LF uptake by BeWo cells were performed after preincubation and in the presence of the P-glycoprotein inhibitors (Cyclosporin A, Verapamil and Quercetin), the organic anion/cation transporter inhibitor (Cimetidine) and the MCT substrates (lactic acid and salicylic acid).
  
  
  RESULTS
  P-glycoprotein inhibitors increased the uptake of LF by BeWo cells. The increase in LF accumulation by Cyclosporin A, Verapamil and Quercetin was by 30, 90 and 80%, respectively. Cimetidine, the organic cation inhibitor, increased the transport of LF by 48%. Lactic acid and salicylic acid, the MCT substrates, initially decreased the accumulation of LF by 30% and subsequently increased the uptake of LF by 500 and 53%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The uptake of LF by human trophoblast cells is mediated by multiple transporters as well as passive diffusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel. polache@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Polachek
authors.forename: Gershon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holcberg
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polachek
authors.forename: Mazal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feinshtein
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheiner
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Zvi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D016623:Ion Pumps / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016623:Ion Pumps; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin