Raloxifene is a highly insoluble, highly metabolized serum estrogen receptor modulator approved for use in the treatment of osteoporosis. Hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) is a novel solubility enhancer previously demonstrated to increase the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen, letrozole, and itraconazole. The current study evaluated the pharmacokinetics of raloxifene in oral and intravenous formulations with HBenBCD in male Wistar-Hannover rats. Analytical methodology to measure raloxifene and its metabolites was developed by measuring raloxifene metabolism in vitro. Formulation with HBenBCD significantly increased raloxifene oral bioavailability. Mean ± S.D. oral bioavailabilities were 2.6 ± 0.4% for raloxifene formulated with microcrystalline cellulose, 7.7 ± 2.1% for a solid capsule formulation of raloxifene:HBenBCD complex, and 5.7 ± 1.3% for a liquid-filled capsule formulation containing raloxifene:HBenBCD/PEG400/H2O. Relative to raloxifene/microcrystalline filled capsules, the presence of HBenBCD in the solid capsule formulation afforded: (i) a decrease in raloxifene Tmax (2.5 ± 0.5 h versus 4.0 ± 0.5 h); (ii) a two-fold increase in raloxifene Cmax and a three-fold increase in raloxifene AUC; and (iii) a 12-fold increase in raloxifene glucuronide Cmax and a 6.5-fold increase in raloxifene glucuronide AUC. Hence, these studies demonstrate that raloxifene formulations containing HBenBCD significantly increased the oral bioavailability in rats relative to formulations that did not contain HBenBCD.

Les transporteurs membranaires jouent un rôle primordial dans la pharmacocinétique de médicaments mais aussi dans le transport de composés endogènes. La maîtrise de modèle in vitro permettant d’évaluer leur implication dans des interactions médicamenteuses, notamment au niveau hépatique, est donc primordiale. L’utilisation de ces modèles permettra aussi de déterminer l’impact potentiel de contaminants environnementaux, comme les particules diesel, sur l’expression fonctionnelle de transporteurs. Nos résultats démontrent la fiabilité de modèles hépatocytaires (hépatocytes et cellules d’hépatome HepaRG) en culture monocouche pour l’étude du transport membranaire de médicaments. Grâce à ces modèles, nous avons mis en évidence que des extraits de particules diesel (DEPe) peuvent modifier l’expression et/ou la fonction de transporteurs membranaires hépatiques, les Organic Anion Polypeptide Transporter (OATP) et les Multidrug Resistance associated Protein (MRP). Au niveau pulmonaire, les DEPe peuvent aussi augmenter l’expression du complexe LAT1/CD98hc, un complexe protéique de transport d’acides aminés souvent associé à de mauvais pronostics dans les cas de cancer du poumon. En conclusion, nos résultats mettent en évidence que les DEPe peuvent intervenir dans la régulation de l’activité et de l’expression de transporteurs membranaires tant au niveau hépatique qu’au niveau pulmonaire. / Membrane transporters play a major role in the pharmacokinetic of drugs and in the transport of endogenous compounds. The development of in vitro models for the study of their expression and activity is therefore important to consider, notably for analyzing their interactions with drugs or environmental contaminants such as diesel exhaust particles. Our results demonstrated the reliability of hepatocytic cells (hepatocytes and highly differentiated hepatoma HepaRG cells) in monolayer culture for the study of membrane transport of drugs. Using these models allowed us to demonstrate that extracts of diesel exhaust particles (DEPe) can alter the expression and / or function of major liver transporters such as organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) and Protein Multidrug associated Resistance (MRP). In lung cells, DEPe can increase the expression of complex LAT1 / CD98hc a protein complex, that is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that DEPe can regulate activity and expression of membrane transporters at hepatic and lung level.

No description available.

No description available.

Human milk contains ~ 25 µg/mL of soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) protein, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that triggers the innate immune system to respond to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To date, the role of CD14 in the digestive tract of breast fed infants has not been well characterized and is the subject of this thesis. To investigate the biodistribution of proteins such as CD14 in vivo, a novel method for 14C radiolabeling of proteins to high specific radioactivity was developed using in vacuo methylation. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and casein were used as test proteins to determine the following: 1) The efficacy of the in vacuo radiolabeling procedure; 2) The extent of incorporation of the 14C-label into the organs of oro-gastric gavaged 10 day old Sprague Dawley rats. [14C]BSA, [14C]casein and [14C]CD14 were prepared with specific radioactivities of 10 400, 10 800 and 163 000 dpm/µg, respectively. After feeding 6.25 µg of 14C-labeled proteins, quantifiable levels of 14C were found in the stomach, jejunum, duodenum, ileum, large intestine, intestinal luminal flushes, blood, liver, spleen and kidneys of rats. The accumulation of radiolabel in the organs of [14C]CD14 fed rats was temporally and spatially distinct from [14C]BSA and [14C]casein. Most notably, the label persisted in the stomach 480 min post-gavage. To design a neonate animal model for biodistribution, the segmental and total gastrointestinal transit times (GItt) were measured in two litters of 10 and 15 day old Sprague Dawley rat pups using barium sulfate. Ten day old rat pups that remained with and without the dam had a total gastrointestinal transit time of 13.8 ± 0.9 hr and 9.3 ± 0.7 hr, respectively. This decrease (p<0.05) in total gastrointestinal transit time in the absence of the dam was age dependent, as it was not observed (p>0.05) in the 15 day old rat pup litter. The immunological impact of an exogenous sCD14 source was examined in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Pre-treatment of CD14+ monocytes with sCD14 had a protective effect, one of reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β) when challenged with LPS. 14C was absorbed by neonate rats upon ingestion of [14C]CD14 and exposure to relatively high concentrations of rCD14 led to a reduction in inflammation. This may be beneficial to initial gut colonization in breast-fed newborns. / Alexander Graham Bell NSERC CGS M scholarship. Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences, Summer in Japan Fellowship. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes Grant #82816 “Fate and function of breast milk and recombinant human CD14 at mammary and newborn gastrointestinal mucosal epithelia”.

Existing therapeutic options for the alleviation of nicotine addiction have been largely ineffective at stemming the tide of tobacco use. Immunopharmacotherapy, or vaccination, is a promising, alternate therapy that is currently being explored. Results from previous studies indicate that nicotine vaccines (NVs) are effective in subjects that achieve high drug-specific antibody titers, though overall efficacy has not been observed. Consequently, improvement of these vaccines is necessary before they can achieve approval for human use. In this report, three separate approaches towards NV potentiation are explored. The first approach applied physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to better assess NV potential. Rat and human physiological and pharmacological parameters were obtained from literature and used to construct compartmentalized models for nicotine and cotinine distribution. These models were then calibrated and validated using data obtained from literature. The final models verified the therapeutic potential of the NV concept, identified four key parameters associated with vaccine success, and established correlates for success that could be used to evaluate future NVs prior to clinical trials. In the second approach, conjugate NV scaffoldings were engineered by using wild-type (WT) and chimeric human papilloma (HPV) 16 L1 protein virus-like particles (VLPs). The chimeric protein was created by removing the last 34 C-terminal residues from the WT protein and then incorporating a multi-epitope insert that could universally target major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. The proteins were subsequently expressed in E. coli and purified using a multi-step process. Comparisons between the separation outcomes revealed that the insert was able to modulate individual process outcomes and improve overall yield without inhibiting VLP assembly. In the third approach, commonly used carrier proteins were computationally mined for their MHC class II epitope content using human leukocyte antigen (HLA) population frequency data and MHC epitope prediction software. The most immunogenic epitopes were concatenated with interspacing cathepsin cleavage sequences and the resulting protein was re-evaluated using the earlier methods. This work represents the first ever in silico design of chimeric antigens that could potentially target all of the major HLA DQ and HLA DR allotypes found in humans. / Doctor of Philosophy / Existing treatment options for addressing nicotine addiction have been largely ineffective at preventing tobacco use. Vaccination, on the other hand, is a promising, alternate treatment option that is currently being explored. Previous studies have shown that nicotine vaccines (NVs) are effective in the subjects that respond well to the vaccine. Effectiveness in the majority of vaccine recipients, however, has not been observed. Consequently, improvement of these vaccines is necessary before they can be used in humans. In this report, three separate approaches for improving NV effectiveness are explored. The first approach applied physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to better assess NV potential. Parameters were obtained from literature and used to construct models that could predict NV effectiveness in rats and humans. These models were then calibrated and validated using data obtained from literature. The final models verified that NVs could work if certain conditions were met, identified four key parameters associated with vaccine success, and allowed for estimation of NV efficacy prior to their evaluation in humans. In the second approach, protein carriers for conjugate NVs were constructed using the human papilloma (HPV) 16 L1 protein. This protein is known for its ability to form virus-like particles (VLPs). Both a modified and an unmodified (wild-type) protein were constructed. The modified HPV 16 L1 protein was created by replacing the last 34 C-terminal amino acids with a polypeptide insert that could enhance the immunogenicity of the vaccine. The modified and unmodified proteins were then expressed in E. coli and purified. Results indicated that the insert was able to modulate individual process outcomes and improve overall process yield without preventing VLP assembly. In the third approach, commonly used carrier proteins were computationally mined for their MHC class II epitope content using human gene frequency data and MHC epitope prediction software. The epitopes that were predicted to be the most immunogenic were linked together with interspacing protease recognition sequences and the immunogenicity of the resulting protein was re-evaluated using the prediction software. This work represents the first computational design of antigens that could potentially allow a vaccine to be effective in a large portion of human population regardless of the genetic variability.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been heavily implicated in the pathophysiology of depression and although its changes in the brain has been well studied using microdialysis, the analysis of its time data is often insufficient as pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) concepts are often neglected. The works in this dissertation attempt to further explore 5-HT time data via mechanism-based PK/PD modeling. The first work explored the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in which the desensitization of 5-HTIA autoreceptors has been implicated in the several-week delay in onset of therapeutic response to antidepressants. An extension of a standard indirect-response pharmacodynamic modeling approach was used to account for the stimulation of locally administered citalopram on the production of 5-HT in the DRN and the nucleus accumbens. The overall model reasonably captured the time courses of 5-HT in both regions of the brain and predicted 5-HT concentrations in the DRN under a different (subcutaneous) dosing scheme. This model is the first to quantitatively explore an important control mechanism of central 5-HT output as perturbed by an antidepressant administration. The second work explored the combination treatment of citalopram, a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and WAY-100635, a 5-HT 1A receptor antagonist. Citalopram plasma kinetics was designated as fixed functions driving the dynamics of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) output in rat ventral hippocampus assumed in a standard indirect-response PD model which was then extended to fit the PD data for the combination treatment to account for two drugs acting synergistically on separate processes to modulate the same PD endpoint. Contrary to previous conclusions drawn based on peak 5-HT level, simulations from this modeling work showed that the potentiation of WAY-100635 in terms of AUEC (area under the effect curve) is minimally significant. Mechanism based PK/PD modeling as a way to explore pharmacological mechanism is further demonstrated in the third work which explored the mechanism of cancer cell kill in the presence of P-glycoprotein induction. Results from this modeling work suggest the need for reducing therapy-induced P-glycoprotein induction via optimizing dosing schedules to achieve maximal cancer cell reduction.

Phenytoin is a relatively old anticonvulsant, but it has been commonly prescribed for more than half a century. The variability of phenytoin pharmacokinetic characteristics presents a challenge in therapeutic drug monitoring; hence, in the past twenty years its pharmacokinetic characteristics have been studied extensively. Up to now the studies were done with either healthy individuals or patients with normal liver functions. In this study a multifactorial scale of liver function, Pugh-Modified CTC (Child-Turcotte Criteria), has been incorporated to develop and evaluate a population pharmacokinetic model for phenytoin to be used in patients with liver dysfunction. Nonlinear Mixed Effects Model (NONMEM), a regression computer program, was utilized to develop the population pharmacokinetic model on the data of this study. The predictive performance of this model was evaluated by means of bootstrapping of the prediction error (PE) with the improved prediction-error (PE imp ) serving as an estimate of internal validity. The developed and validated final population pharmacokinetic model for phenytoin in patients with liver dysfunction is presented as follows: [special characters omitted] where Vmax is the maximum metabolic rate (mg/h); &thetas; 1 , the intercept for Vmax, is 7.41 mg/h; WT is the body weight (Kg); LS indicates one of three liver statuses: normal (CTC ≤ 6), mild dysfunction (CTC scores of 7–9), and moderate dysfunction (CTC scores of 10–12); Vd, the apparent volume of distribution (L), is 184 L; &thetas; WT is 0.126 and &thetas; LS is 2.14 for moderate liver-dysfunction. The maximum metabolic rate increased in patients with liver dysfunction, and there was weak statistical evidence that Vmax might increase in patients with chronic alcohol abuse. Based on the aforementioned longitudinal (population) pharmacokinetic model, a dosing method was also developed. By utilizing the dosing method, it may be possible to improve phenytoin dosage regimens, initial doses, and Bayesian estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters. Improved initial doses and more accurate estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters may lead to fewer required measured phenytoin concentrations and fewer dose changes. A decrease in the number of dose changes should result in less time expended in the writing and processing prescriptions and orders, and there may also be fewer wasted doses. Additionally, the improved initial doses should result in concentrations more frequently in the therapeutic window; thereby, resulting in less toxicity, greater efficacy, and improved patient compliance. All of these effects should decrease the cost of therapy in patients receiving phenytoin, a factor which is an important consideration in this age of cost containment and managed care.

Bacterial meningitis in dogs and cats is a rare disease associated with a high lethality rate. The spectrum of causative bacteria includes a diverse set of gram positive, gram negative and anaerobic species. Currently, no veterinary medicinal product is approved for this indication in these species in Europe. The objective of this review was to collect the available pharmacokinetic data for antibiotics approved in dogs and cats to enable a preliminary analysis of their potential effectiveness for the treatment of bacterial meningitis. This analysis yielded data for 13 different antibiotics in dogs and two in cats. Additionally, data about frequently recommended cephalosporines not approved in dogs and cats were included. The collected data was used to assess the potential of the respective antibiotics to attain certain simple pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) indexes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A more sophisticated investigation using modern methods was not possible due to the limited data available. For this purpose, data about the sensitivity of four bacterial species commonly associated with meningitis in dogs and cats to these antibiotics were included. The analysis provided evidence for the potential effectiveness of ampicillin, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, ceftriaxone and cefoxitin against bacteria frequently detected in bacterial meningitis in dogs. Data were not available or insufficient for the assessment of several antibiotics, including frequently recommended substances like metronidazole and trimethoprimsulphonamide. Little evidence is available for the use of antibiotics in cats afflicted with this disease, highlighting the need for further research to obtain data for evidence based therapeutic recommendations.

No description available.