title: The putative P-gp inhibitor telmisartan does not affect the transcellular permeability and cellular uptake of the calcium channel antagonist verapamil in the P-glycoprotein expressing cell line MDCK II MDR1.
abstract: Verapamil is used in high doses for the treatment of cluster headache. Verapamil has been described as a P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) substrate. We wished to evaluate in vitro whether co administration of a P-gp inhibitor with verapamil could be a feasible strategy for increasing CNS uptake of verapamil. Fluxes of radiolabelled verapamil across MDCK II MDR1 monolayers were measured in the absence and presence of the putative P-gp inhibitor telmisartan (a clinically approved drug compound). Verapamil displayed a vectorial basolateral-to-apical transepithelial efflux across the MDCK II MDR1 monolayers with a permeability of 5.7 × 10(-5) cm sec(-1) compared to an apical to basolateral permeability of 1.3 × 10(-5) cm sec(-1). The efflux could be inhibited with the P-gp inhibitor zosuquidar. Zosuquidar (0.4 μmol/L) reduced the efflux ratio (PB-A/PA-B) for verapamil 4.6-1.6. The presence of telmisartan, however, only caused a slight reduction in P-gp-mediated verapamil transport to an efflux ratio of 3.4. Overall, the results of the present in vitro approach indicate, that clinical use of telmisartan as a P-gp inhibitor may not be an effective strategy for increasing brain uptake of verapamil by co-administration with telmisartan.
authors.affiliation: Bioneer:FARMA, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup Hospital Glostrup, Denmark ; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saaby
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen Glostrup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peer
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tfelt-Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brodin
keywords: Blood–brain barrier; P-glycoprotein; cluster headache; telmisartan; verapamil