PK studies in man and mice of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide
Transcription
PK studies in man and mice of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide
DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 TITLE PAGE EVALUATION OF CLOPIDOGREL CONJUGATION METABOLISM: PK STUDIES IN MAN AND MICE OF CLOPIDOGREL ACYL GLUCURONIDE Yuksel Rasit, Simona Rizea Savu, Constantin Mircioiu University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biopharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (S.N.S., M.C.); 3S-Pharmacological Consultation & Research GmbH, Koenigsbergerstrasse 1 – 27243 Harpstedt, Germany (S.N.S, L.S., S.R.S.); Pharma Serv International SRL., 52 Sabinelor Street, 5th District, 050853 Bucharest, Romania (M.S.); Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Health of the Moldavian Republic, 51 Puskin Street, MD-2005 Chisinau, The Moldavian Republic (L.R.) National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development (ICCF), Pharmacology Department, 112 Vitan Avenue, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania (Y. R.) 1 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 Simona Nicoleta Savu, Luigi Silvestro, Mariana Surmeian, Lina Remis, DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 RUNNING TITLE PAGE Running title: PK STUDIES IN MAN AND MICE OF CLOPIDOGREL ACYL GLUCURONIDE Corresponding author: Simona Nicoleta Savu Address: 52 Sabinelor Street, 5th District, 050853 Bucharest, Romania Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 Mobile phone: +40 758 109 202 E-mail: [email protected] Document statistics: Abstract - 242 Introduction - 748 Discussion - 1297 Tables - 2 Figures - 6 References - 34 Nonstandard abbreviations: AUC0-t - area under the curve from time 0 until the last quantifiable point AUC0-inf - area under the curve from time 0 to infinite CAG - clopidogrel acyl glucuronide CCA – clopidogrel carboxylic acid 2 DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 Cmax - peak analyte concentration CYP 450 - Cytochromes P450 HPLC-MS/MS - High-performance liquid chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry ICCF - National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development K2EDTA - di-potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid LLOQ – lower limit of quantification MRM - multiple reactions monitoring N. A. - not applicable N. S. - not significant PK - pharmacokinetics QC - quality control SD - standard deviation t1/2 - plasma half life Tmax - time of the peak analyte concentration UGTs - UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 3 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 i.v. – intravenous DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 ABSTRACT The existence of a glucuronide conjugate of the major circulating clopidogrel metabolites, called clopidogrel acyl glucuronide (CAG), is already known. However, information regarding its PK, metabolism and clearance are modest. We investigated the potential in vivo CAG trans-esterification to clopidogrel (reaction occurring in vitro in particular conditions) by administering the metabolite to mice. Experiments were then carried-out on men, administering clopidogrel alone or followed by included: PK comparison of CAG, clopidogrel carboxylic acid (CCA) and clopidogrel in plasma, determination of their elimination patterns in urine and feces and tracking of charcoal-induced changes in PK and/or urinary excretion that would indicate relevant entero-hepatic recycling of CAG. In mice, CAG was rapidly hydrolyzed to CCA after oral administration while by i.v. route metabolic conversion to CCA was delayed. No levels of clopidogrel were detected in mice plasma, excluding any potential trans-esterification or other form of back-conversion in vivo. PK experiments in man showed that CAG is hydrolyzed in the gastro intestinal tract (very low concentrations in feces) but there is no evidence of entero-hepatic recirculation. Quantitation of the three moieties in stool samples accounted for only 1.2% of an administered dose, suggesting that other yet unknown metabolites/degradation products formed through metabolic processes and/or the activity of local microflora are mainly excreted by this route. In man CAG was confirmed as one of the major terminal metabolites of clopidogrel, with a PK behavior similar to CCA. 4 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 activated charcoal intake (intestinal reabsorption blockade). Here, study objectives DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 INTRODUCTION Glucuronide conjugates represent one of the major types of phase II metabolites of xenobiotics. Since generally the biological function of the aglycone is abolished by glucuronidation, conjugates are often considered as metabolites of modest interest; however, few compelling cases in which glucuronides maintain/increase the biological function of their parent compound, [Baruna et. al., 2004; Ohno et. al., 2008] suggest that further inquiry into their metabolic fate is In the particular case of clopidogrel, while the oxidative metabolism is quite well known, the conjugative metabolism has not been studied in detail. In terms of phase I metabolism, it is known that two oxidative steps, mediated by multiple P450 cytochromes, are required for the conversion of clopidogrel to its active metabolite [Savi et. al., 2000; Kazui et. al., 2010]. Interestingly, activation by the CYP450 system is rate-limited and ultimately a quantitatively minor metabolic pathway. In parallel, about 85% of the drug released from dosage form is converted to clopidogrel carboxylic acid (CCA) [von Beckerath et. al., 2005; Ksycinska et. al., 2006], which is subsequently conjugated to CAG [Silvestro et. al., 2010] - a quantitatively important metabolite that has not been studied in detail until now [Figure 1, schematic representation of clopidogrel metabolism]. Though in vivo reactivity of CAG in particular remains to be clarified, it should be noted that acyl glucuronides of carboxylic acids are a class of conjugates generally prone to hydrolysis, molecular rearrangements and interactions with cellular target molecules by covalent bindings [Ritter, 2000]. So far, only binding to CYP2C8 was demonstrated for CAG [Tornio et. al., 2014] and it is unknown if the metabolite 5 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 warranted. DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 undergoes any type of metabolic conversion before being excreted from the human body. In vitro, reactivity of CAG has been already demonstrated. It was shown that in specific conditions it converts to parent clopidogrel by trans-esterification [Silvestro et. al., 2011], a reaction sometimes occurring also during metabolic processes [Boyer et. al. 1992; Knights et. al., 2000; Celli et. al., 2007; Fujino et. al., 2014]. clopidogrel, the amount reconstituted could be considerable being the exposure to CAG in man (based on AUC0-inf), 500 times higher than that of clopidogrel [Silvestro et. al., 2013]); furthermore, the newly formed clopidogrel would be again available for metabolism by CYPs and thus partly converted to the active metabolite. While it is clear that the confirmation of such a pathway could only provide mechanistic insight (quantitative data on clopidogrel and its active metabolite being already available in literature), the disposition of CAG was considered important knowledge to be gained as any yet unknown intermediate reaction could prove useful in understanding the large PK variability of clopidogrel and its active moiety. Rationale and study objectives The present studies represent a follow-up to previous work in which we reported the existence of CAG and described its in vitro back-conversion to clopidogrel by trans-esterification [Silvestro et. al., 2011]. The main questions to clarify now are “Can this by any means happen also in vivo?” and “Which is the metabolic fate of this conjugate?”. First, in the absence of a CAG standard suitable for administration to humans, we conducted a study in mice in order to determine if this metabolite may back- 6 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 Should CAG participate in vivo to any process resulting in back-conversion to DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 convert to clopidogrel parent by trans-esterification or another reaction of the conjugated metabolite; the study was conducted on mice (C57BL) having a similar glucuronidase tissue distribution to that of man [Gad, 2007]. Another important aspect to clarify is if CAG undergoes enterohepatic recycling since mass balance studies conducted with radiolabeled clopidogrel in man [Lins, 1999] showed that recycling occurs without identifying the moieties involved. Plasma levels of clopidogrel and its 2 main metabolites were compared in healthy this bile-binding agent was administered according to a regimen designed to disrupt enterohepatic recycling, as already described in literature [Elomaa et. al., 2001; Wang et. al., 2014], and have minimal impact on clopidogrel absorption. In view of a more comprehensive understanding of their metabolism, the determination of the main excretion route (urine and/or feces) for CAG, clopidogrel and CCA (as precursors) was also a set objective of the single dose charcoalinteraction study in man. It is noteworthy that a human study was preferred due to the complex nature of the physiological processes studied through PK determinations and the consideration that data gathered in any other model would be extremely difficult to extrapolate, raising concerns of relevance in a real clinical setting. 7 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 volunteers treated with clopidogrel alone or in combination with activated charcoal; DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 MATERIALS AND METHODS Standards, reagents and medication For the preparation of solutions for oral and intravenous administration in mice, clopidogrel Acyl-β-D-glucuronide standards of adequate purity were purchased from Toronto Research Chemicals, Canada. The internal standards used for HPLC-MS/MS analytical determinations were: d3clopidogrel hydrogensulfate (SynFine Research, Canada), clopidogrel Acyl-β-D- Commercially available reagents of analytical grade purity were used for sample processing. Plavix 75 mg tablets (Sanofi) from a commercial batch [AY171] were used. The medical grade activated charcoal was also procured from the market (from Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH, Germany). Intravenous and Oral Pharmacokinetics Study in Mice Study design and sample collection. All the procedures used were in accordance with the standards set forth in the eighth edition of Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academy of Sciences, The National Academies Press, Washington D.C.). Laboratory animals (C57BL/6 male mice, weighting 20 ± 4g, 25 ± 1 days of age) were bred, raised and cared for at the Cantacuzino National Institute of Research-Development for Microbiology and Immunology (NIRDMIC) located in Bucharest, Romania. The experimental part was carried out in the Pharmacology Department of the National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development (ICCF) located in Bucharest, Romania. The study was conducted according to a parallel design on an overall sample size of 71 laboratory animals (5 per sampling point after each mode of administration plus 6 animals 8 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 glucuronide (TRC, Canada) and 13C6-clopidogrel carboxylic acid (Alsachim, France). DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 treated with normal saline only in view of obtaining blank plasma for preparation of analytical quality control samples). Animals randomized to the treatment arms, received in sterile conditions a dose of 200 µL freshly prepared solution of 1.25mg/ml clopidogrel acyl glucuronide in normal saline, either per os (through gavage) or intravenously, via tail vein injection. Blood samples (150 μL) were collected in prechilled tubes containing K2EDTA at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after oral dosing or at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after intravenous administration. The samples were nominal temperature of 4 °C, 1500 G-force for a duration of 10 minutes). The separated plasma was frozen at −70 °C and maintained at this temperature until analyzed. For sample processing and analysis we used a slight modification of a method already published [Silvestro et. al., 2011], as described below. Extraction of clopidogrel, clopidogrel carboxilic acid and clopidogrel acyl glucuronide from mice plasma samples. Plasma thawing was done on wet ice. Aliquots of 100 μL from post-dose mice plasma samples were diluted with 200 μL of ice-cold acetonitrile, spiked with 20 μL of internal standard mix in acetonitrile (d3clopidogrel hydrogensulfate, clopidogrel Acyl-β-D-glucuronide and 13 C6-clopidogrel carboxylic acid, 200 ng/mL), vortexed for 3 minutes and then centrifuged for 5 minutes with 4000 rpm at 8 °C. Supernatants (100 μL) were diluted with 100 μL icecold water containing 2% acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid. The extracts were analyzed as described in the next paragraph. Clopidogrel, clopidogrel carboxilic acid and clopidogrel acyl glucuronide quantification. Six-point calibration curves were prepared in blank mice plasma (K2EDTA as anticoagulant) with concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100.00 ng/mL for clopidogrel and from 1.00 to 10000.00 ng/ml for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and 9 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 immediately immersed in water and ice bath until centrifugation (performed at a DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 clopidogrel carboxylic acid. The quality control and calibration curve samples were also spiked with internal standard mix in acetonitrile (d3-clopidogrel hydrogensulfate, clopidogrel Acyl-β-D-glucuronide and 13 C6-clopidogrel carboxylic acid, 200 ng/mL) and subsequently extracted in the same manner described previously for study samples. Calibration curves and QC samples (three concentration levels and in triplicate) were analyzed during each analytical sequence. Decisions regarding the acceptance of sequences were taken according to well-established bioanalytical rules calibration failure. Human Oral Pharmacokinetics and Elimination Study Study design and sample collection. Six subjects were enrolled and completed the human PK and elimination study. Study population was comprised of 3 male and 3 non-pregnant, non-lactating female volunteers, 18 to 51 years old (mean age 32.17 ± 14.48). The study was conducted at the Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Health of the Moldavian Republic located in Chisinau. The Study Protocol was reviewed and approved by an Institutional Ethics Committee and all 6 subjects enrolled were informed about the study medication and procedures and gave consent for the participation in the study. Clinical investigations were conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki principles and the medication administered consisted of a single oral dose of reference-listed drug (Plavix 75 mg, procured from the market) per study period. The design was two-way cross-over: in one study period the subjects received just clopidogrel and in the other they received clopidogrel plus a regimen consisting of 20 g activated charcoal suspended in 240 mL of water, given at 6.0, 12.0, 24.0, 36.0, 48.0 and 60.0 hours after dosing. Blood samples (4 mL) for the quantification of 10 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 [FDA, 2013; EMA, 2011]. No sequences had to be rejected due to quality control or DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 parent clopidogrel, clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and clopidogrel carboxylic acid in plasma were collected in pre-chilled tubes containing K2EDTA as anticoagulant, at 1.0; 2.0; 6.0; 9.0; 24.0; 36.0; 48.0 and 72.0 hours after dosing. In the same study, urine was collected in both study periods up to 72 hours post-dose while fecal matter was collected over the same interval but only when clopidogrel was given without activated charcoal (as previous experience thought, presence of charcoal in stool samples leads to ambiguous results). Before analysis, plasma samples were thawed on wet ice, and 100 μL aliquots were spiked with 20 μL solution of internal standard which contained 200 ng/mL d3clopidogrel hydrogensulfate, 200 ng/mL clopidogrel Acyl-β-D-glucuronide and 200 ng/mL 13C6-clopidogrel carboxylic acid in acetonitrile, and then diluted with 200 μL ice-cold acetonitrile. Afterwards they were vortex for 3 minutes and centrifuged at 4000 rpm and 8 °C for 5 minutes. Supernatants (100 μL) were diluted with 100 μL ice-cold water containing 2% acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid. Urine samples were collected during the time intervals 0-12h, 12-24h, 24-36h, 3648h; 48-60h and 60-72h post-dose. The volume of each fresh urine sample was measured and 50 ml aliquots were mixed with 100 μL acetic acid 99.8%, vortexed for 2 minutes and frozen at -20°C. In order to obtain a single representative urinary excretion sample for each time interval, aliquotes from individual samples were mixed in approporiate proportions according to initial sample volume. Before analysis, samples (100 μL) were thawed on wet ice, spiked with 20 μL of internal standard mix in acetonitrile (d3-clopidogrel hydrogensulfate, clopidogrel Acyl-β-Dglucuronide and 13 C6-clopidogrel carboxylic acid 200 ng/mL), and then diluted with 200 μL ice-cold acetonitrile. Afterwards they were vortexed for 3 minutes and then 11 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 Extraction of metabolites from biological samples. DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 centrifuged for 5 minutes at a nominal temperature of 8 °C, with a speed of 4000 rpm. A volume of 100 μL supernatant was separated and diluted with 100 μL ice-cold water containing 2% acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid. Fresh fecal matter samples were frozen for storage at -20 °C. Before analysis, samples were thawed on wet ice, weighed and then diluted 1:10 (w/v) with an ice-cold solution containing 50% acetonitrile and 1% formic acid, as follows: samples were first vortexed for 2 minutes with 1/5 of the calculated volume of the above solution solution was then added and the samples were vortexed again for 3 minutes and centrifuged at 4000 rpm and 8 °C for 10 minutes. A volume of 100 μL supernatant was recovered and processed in the same manner as previously described for thawed urine samples. Clopidogrel, clopidogrel carboxilic acid and clopidogrel acyl glucuronide quantification. Six-point calibration curves were prepared in appropriate matrix (in blank plasma, blank urine, or blank fecal matter samples which were spiked with internal standard, processed and diluted according to the same protocol previously described for study samples). The concentration ranges of the calibration curves were 0.01 to 100.00 ng/mL for clopidogrel and 1.00 to 10000.00 ng/ml for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and clopidogrel carboxylic acid. Calibration curves and QC samples (three concentration levels in triplicate) were analyzed during each analytical sequence. Decisions regarding the acceptance of sequences were taken according to well-established bio-analytical rules [FDA, 2013; EMA, 2011]. No sequences had to be rejected due to quality control or calibration failure. HPLC/MS/MS Analysis. For the analytical determinations we used a HPLC binary gradient (LC-20 AD chromatographic pumps) by Shimadzu - Japan with a 12 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 for dilution and 250 mg glass beads per gram of sample. The remaining volume of the DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 CTC-PAL autosampler (model HTS) manufactured by CTC Analytics, Switzerland. The HPLC system was coupled with a triple quadrupole mass-spectrometer model API 5000 (mice PK samples) or API 6500 (human PK and elimination samples) with an atmospheric pressure electrospray ionization source (model TurboIonSpray), all manufactured by Applied Biosystems-Sciex - Canada. Separations were performed on Ascentis Express RP-Amide columns (100×2.1 mm, 2.7 μm) produced by Supelco. The mobile phase used was a gradient of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile at a flow autosampler 3°C and the temperature of the chromatographic column 55°C. Quantitative data were acquired in multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) positive electrospray ionization mode. The MRM transitions considered were 322.2/184.0 for clopidogrel; 327.2/189.2 for clopidogrel-d3; 484.3/198.1 for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide; 308.2/95.0 for clopidogrel carboxylic acid and 314.1/158.1 for 13 C6- clopidogrel carboxylic acid. Software for pharmacokinetic evaluations and statistic. Pharmacokinetic parameters pertaining to the human PK study were determined and statistically analyzed using SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC - USA). For the determination of pharmacokinetic parameters from mean plasma concentration versus time curves constructed on mice data and for designing charts and graphs, Excel software was used (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA - USA). 13 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 rate of 0.2 mL/min. The injection volume was 10 μL, the temperature of the DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 RESULTS 1. Mice PK and metabolism study No concentration of clopidogrel parent above the LLOQ of the bioanalytical method was identified in any of the mice plasma samples, permitting to conclude that either the concentrations were below 0.01 ng/mL or, most likely, clopidogrel was not formed at all. As the only detected analytes (out of the three moieties screened), the mean plasma clopidogrel carboxylic acid after intravenous and oral administration of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide in mice, are presented in Figure 2, Charts A and B. In Chart C of Figure 2 we present in overlay mode and on ln-linear scale the plasma concentration versus time curves of both metabolites after intravenous and oral dosing. Pharmacokinetic parameters estimated for the two quantifiable metabolites are presented in Table 1 below: The percentage ratio of oral versus intravenous AUCs within the sampling interval (08 hours) was estimated at 29.73%, suggesting that clopidogrel acyl glucuronide undergoes extensive pre-systemic hydrolysis resulting in the formation of the carboxylic acid derivative, not clopidogrel parent. 2. Pharmacokinetic data gathered in the PK and elimination study in man The concentration versus time profiles for parent clopidogrel, clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and clopidogrel carboxylic acid obtained in human subjects following administration of clopidogrel with and without charcoal are presented in Figure 3. For the two metabolites the profiles are practically superimposable, irrespective of charcoal intake, while for clopidogrel the circulating levels registered 14 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 concentration versus time profiles obtained for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 during the elimination phase were slightly increased when charcoal was coadministered. Analysis of AUC data revealed that the increase was not statistically significant (p-value returned by the ANOVA test for treatment effect was 0.055, above the 0.05 significance level). The main pharmacokinetic parameters estimated for clopidogrel and its two metabolites are presented in Table 2 below: For clopidogrel parent the elimination half-life (t½) was 8.1 hours in standard dosing found to be not statistically significant (paired T-test applied returned a value of 0.082, above the 0.05 significance level). For clopidogrel carboxylic acid t½ was 7.8 hours for clopidogrel alone and 6.8 hours when charcoal was co-administered while for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide the same t½ of 5.6 hours was estimated for both administration regimens. 3. Elimination data gathered in the PK and elimination study in man We found that about 15% of an administered clopidogrel dose (calculated as µM ratios) is recovered in urine in the form of the quantified analytes (see Figure 4). The longest recovery times were found for clopidogrel carboxylic acid (urinary excretion still ongoing in the 60 to 72 hours post-dose collection interval) and for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide (recovered in urine up to 60 hours post-dose). For clopidogrel, only trace amounts were identified in urine (total recovery well below 0.001 microM) up to 36 hours post dose while, as expected, unchanged clopidogrel not absorbed from the intestine was mainly recovered in feces. Quantitation of the analytes in stool samples accounted for only 1.2% of an administered dose. The one-tailed paired T-test was used to compare urinary excretion data over the time intervals 0-12h, 12-24h, 24-36h, 36-48h; 48-60h and 60-72h for the three analytes, 15 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 conditions and 10.6 hours when charcoal was co-administered; this difference was DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 after dosing with clopidogrel with or without subsequent administration of activated charcoal (see Figure 5). It was found that the difference in amount recovered over the array of specified intervals was not statistically significant (p values were 0.231 for clopidogrel, 0.488 for clopidogrel carboxylic acid and 0.181 for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide). Urinary recovery by collection intervals for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide is presented in Figure 6-A, while the amunt of urine excreted within the intervals is No statistically significant difference in urinary recovery of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide was identified in any of the collection intervals. 16 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 depicted in Figure 6-B. DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 DISCUSSION The purpose of the present studies was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, metabolic fate and elimination pattern of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide, the main conjugated metabolite of clopidogrel. Since previous in vitro data have demonstrated that CAG can undergo trans-esterification resulting in the formation of parent clopidogrel, emphasis was put on ascertaining if such a reaction could occur also in the in vivo setting. For each type of potential mechanistic conversion studied (trans- physiological model was chosen. For gaining insight into the biodisposition of the metabolite (as such) and for identifying the reaction products derived from the activity of beta-glucuronidase and other hydrolases, a study was conducted in C57BL/6 mice of proper age to ensure peak enzymatic activity [Peng et. al., 2013]. For acquisition of quantitative data regarding the systemic availability and balance between urinary and fecal recovery of CAG after oral dosing with clopidogrel and for determining the likelihood of its involvement in enterohepatic recycling, the only clinically relevant option, given the complex metabolic processes involved, was to perform a study in man [Sörgel et. al., 1989]. Mice PK and metabolism study: After direct administration of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide to mice by oral route (gavage) and intra-venous route (tail vein), HPLC/MS-MS analysis of post-dose PK samples has shown no generation of parent clopidogrel. While trans-esterification to clopidogrel did not take place in vivo, hydrolysis leading to the formation of the acidic derivative was the most important metabolic process observed for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide. Oral data have revealed a very fast metabolism of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide within the first 2 hours from administration, probably occurring in the GI tract by chemical 17 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 esterification/hydrolysis, deconjugation during entero-hepatic recycling), a relevant DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 degradation and/or enzymatic hydrolysis. The percentage ratio of oral versus i.v. AUCs estimated for the administered conjugated metabolite within the sampling interval (0-8 hours) was of 29.73%. By intravenous route, as metabolism was restricted only to systemic degradation of CAG, the rate of conversion to the carboxylic acid form was lower; specifically, while oral data showed that both the administered clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and the formed clopidogrel carboxylic acid reached peak levels simultaneously at one hour, carboxylic acid was of 6 hours and the peak concentrations reached were 2.5 times lower than after oral dosing. Nevertheless, total exposure to clopidogrel carboxylic acid was almost identical irrespective of the administration route of CAG (mean AUC ratio i.v./p.o. was 1.05), thus showing that systemic conversion is also very extensive (as was to be expected considering that lysosomal and microsomal fractions expressing beta-glucuronidase and esterases are widely expressed also in serum and organs other than the liver in the organism of C57BL/6 mice [Peng et. al., 2013; Tegelstrom et. al. 1981; Lusis et. al., 1977]). Human PK data: The use of activated charcoal as bile-binding agent for the purpose of impeding enterohepatic recycling of xenobiotics is already well established [Stass et. al., 2005; Taft, 2009; AACT, 2005]. Also, PK-interaction studies between drugs and activated charcoal have been used previously for determining if the active itself or related molecules undergo extensive recycling; reduced exposure coupled with accelerated elimination of the investigated molecule in the charcoal study arm are classic indicators of discontinuing/minimizing the recycling process [Sörgel et. al., 1989; Elomaa et. al., 2001; Wang et. al., 2014]. For unbiased results, the administration schedule for activated charcoal must be 18 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 following tail injection the time lag till maximal plasma levels of clopidogrel DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 individualized according to the biopharmaceutical properties of the studied drug to ensure that administration of the bile-binding agent does not also alter drug absorption. For clopidogrel in particular, while the early Tmax can be misleading, it is important to note that absorption is slow and mainly occurs in the lower compartments of the gastrointestinal tract. With slow absorption and fast subsequent elimination of the absorbed fraction (mainly through extensive metabolism and to a lesser extent due to actual excretion), the equilibrium between the two constants gastrointestinal simulation of regional absorption distribution of clopidogrel, recently published by our group, has shown that absorption only starts in the duodenum (33% of dose absorbed) and is completed through significant contribution (30%) from caecum and ascending colon [Savu et. al., 2016]. This behaviour is quite typical, since clopidogrel is a weak base characterized by a dissociation constant (pKa) of 5.3 [US National Library of Medicine, 2012], therefore freely crossing cell membranes in gastro-intestinal compartments where the pH is greater than 5.3. Considering these properties, administration of activated charcoal was started at 6.0 hours after clopidogrel dosing so that any decreased exposure possibly noted for the parent drug or the studied metabolites in the charcoal arm could only be attributed to recycling impairment and not decreased drug absorption. The fact that clopidogrel concentrations remained practically unchanged irrespective of charcoal intake indicated that the administration schedule for the bilebinding agent was correctly designed for the intended purpose and that clopidogrel (as such) is not involved in any enterohepatic cycle. Considering the pharmacokinetic data obtained for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide, with particular emphasis on elimination half-life (determined to be 5.6 19 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 occurs much earlier than complete absorption of the prodrug. In fact, an in silico DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 hours irrespective of charcoal administration) and results of the comparison carried out between plasma profiles of the metabolite generated in the presence and absence of activated charcoal (charcoal/no charcoal ratios of 0.98 for Cmax and 1.10 for AUC), it can be concluded that any entero-hepatic recycling of CAG possibly occurring is not significant. The conclusion is supported also by the statistic tests applied for comparison of the primary PK parameters of CAG in the two administration conditions (the ANOVA test checking for treatment as fixed effect returned p-values Human elimination data: Based on the knowledge acquired it can be said that clopidogrel acyl glucuronide may be regarded as a quantitatively important yet terminal metabolite of the parent drug, not being capable of contributing to the regeneration of known moieties linked to active metabolite formation. However, the potential of acyl glucuronide to play other roles of significant importance in terms of clopidogrel activity cannot be yet excluded. Quantitation of the analytes in stool samples accounted for only 1.2% of an administered dose, quite far from the mass balance study results previously reported in literature [Lins et. al., 1999] that showed a cumulative fecal recovery of radioactivity ranging from 35 to 57% after single dosing with 75 mg of 14C-labeled clopidogrel. This fact strongly suggests that other metabolites and/or degradation products not yet characterized are involved in this elimination process. The finding is consistent with the SmPC report that twenty distinct metabolites of the clopidogrel can be identified in biological matrices. Urinary data confirm what we hypothesized based on the previously presented plasma PK results of same subjects, namely that the acyl glucuronide derivative does not undergo significant entero-hepatic recycling, if any. Should that have been the case, 20 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 above the 0.05 significance level for both Cmax and AUC0-t data). DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 administration of charcoal would have accelerated elimination of the metabolite and not the opposite. There is also no evidence that any of the three quantified moieties is involved in entero-hepatic recycling. To conclude, despite the high tendency observed for it in vitro, no evidence was found to suggest that clopidogrel acyl glucuronide could reconvert to parent clopidogrel in vivo by trans-esterification. Based on comparison of PK profiles for clopidogrel and the conjugated metabolite alone and in the presence of activated would be capable of reforming clopidogrel (as such) through participation in an entero-hepatic cycle. So far it seems that the amount of clopidogrel converted by carboxylesterase 1 to the inactive carboxylic acid (about 85% of an administered dose) is not made again available for metabolisation by CYPs so that it might be oxidized and form the active thiol metabolite. 21 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 charcoal, it can also be stated that it is unlikely that clopidogrel acyl glucuronide DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to extend their gratitude to Angela Casarica, from the Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies of ICCF for her help in mice plasma processing and to Constanta Dulea and Adrian Ghita from Pharma Serv International for the help granted concerning the HPLC/MS-MS analysis of pharmacokinetic samples and respectively for aiding in the statistical analysis of PK data. Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 22 DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS Participated in research design: Savu, Silvestro, Rizea Savu, Mircioiu. Conducted experiments: Savu, Silvestro, Remis, Yuksel. Performed data analysis: Savu, Silvestro, Mircioiu. Wrote or contributed to the writing of the manuscript: Savu, Silvestro, Surmeian, Mircioiu. Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 23 DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 REFERENCES AACT (American Academy of Clinical Toxicology) and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (2005) Position Paper: Single-Dose Activated Charcoal, Clinical Toxicology 43: 61-87. Bailey MJ and Dickinson RG (2003) Acyl glucuronide reactivity in perspective: Biological consequences Chemico-Biological Interactions 145(2): 11737. interesting retinoid. Journal of Nutrition 134(1): 286S-289S. Boyer CS, Petersen DR (1992) Enzymatic basis for the transesterification of cocaine in the presence of ethanol: evidence for the participation of microsomal carboxylesterases. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 260(3): 939-946. 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DMD # 71092 http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR__Scientific_Discussion/human/000174/WC500042184.pdf FDA Guidance for Industry “Bioanalytical Method Validation” Draft Guidance, September 2013, Revision 1 Fujino C, Watanabe Y, Uramaru N, Kitamura S (2014) Transesterification of a series of 12 parabens by liver and small-intestinal microsomes of rats and humans. Food and Chemical Toxicology 64:361-368. Shayne C. Gad) pp 19 -146, CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group, LLC), Florida. Kazui M, Nishiya Y, Ishizuka T, Hagihara K, Farid NA, Okazaki O, Ikeda T and Kurihara A (2010) Identification of the human cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the two oxidative steps in the bioactivation of clopidogrel to its pharmacologically active metabolite. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 38(1): 92-99. 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Use of incurred samples to test backconversion. Journal of Chromatography B 878: 3134–3142. Silvestro L, Gheorghe M, Iordachescu A, Ciuca V, Tudoroniu A, Rizea Savu S and Tarcomnicu I (2011) Development and validation of an HPLC–MS/MS method to quantify clopidogrel acyl glucuronide, clopidogrel acid metabolite, and clopidogrel in plasma samples avoiding analyte back-conversion. Analitical & Bioanalitical Chemistry 401(3): 1023-1034. Pharmacokinetic: Review of Early Studies and Novel Experimental Results, in Clopidogrel: Pharmacology, Clinical Uses and Adverse Effects (Alecsi JP and Victorino A eds.) pp 85 - 106, Nova Science Publishers, New York. SmPC (Summary of Product Characteristics) of Plavix, revised 26 July 2013 Sörgel F, Naber KG, Jaehde U, Reiter A, Seelmann R, Sigl G (1989) Gastrointestinal secretion of ciprofloxacin. Evaluation of the charcoal model for investigations in healthy volunteers. The American Journal of Medicine 87(5A): 62S65S. 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Tornio A, Filppula AM, Kailari O, Neuvonen M, Nyrönen TH, Tapaninen T, Neuvonen PJ, Niemi M, Backman JT (2014) Glucuronidation converts clopidogrel to a strong time-dependent inhibitor of CYP2C8: a phase II metabolite as a perpetrator of drug-drug interactions. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 96(4): 498-507. US National Library of Medicine, Hazardous Substances Databank Number: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+7430 von Beckerath N, Taubert D, Pogatsa-Murray G, Schömig E, Kastrati A and Schömig A (2005) Absorption, Metabolization, and Antiplatelet Effects of 300-, 600-, and 900-mg Loading Doses of Clopidogrel, Circulation 112(19): 2946-2950. Wang X, Mondal S, Wang J, Tirucherai G, Zhang D, Boyd RA, Frost C (2014) Effect of activated charcoal on apixaban pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects, American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs 14(2): 147-154. 28 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 7430, revised 2012/04/2. Available online at: DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 FOOTNOTES This work received financial support through the project entitled "CERO – Career profile: Romanian Researcher", cofinanced by the European Social Fund for Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013 [POSDRU/159/1.5/S/135760]. Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 29 DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 LEGENDS FOR FIGURES Figure 1. Representation of clopidogrel metabolism Figure 2. Metabolites determined in plasma after administration of clopidogrel acyl glucuronide by intravenous (N=35, parallel, 5 animals per sampling point) and oral route (N=30 parallel, 5 animals per sampling point) Figure 3. Plasma concentration vs. time curves for the three analytes after (linear-linear display on charts 3-A, C, E and ln-linear display on charts 3-B, D, F) Figure 4. Total recovery of clopidogrel, clopidogrel acyl-glucuronide and clopidogrel carboxylic acid in urine and stool samples over 72h post dose after administration of clopidogrel in human subjects (N=6) Figure 5. Total recovery of clopidogrel, clopidogrel acyl-glucuronide and clopidogrel carboxylic acid in urine samples after administration of clopidogrel in human subjects (N=6) with or without activated charcoal Figure 6. Recovery of clopidogrel acyl-glucuronide in urine (N=6) displayed by collection intervals (6-A) and amount of urine excreted by collection intervals (6-B) 30 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 administration of clopidogrel in human subjects (N=6) with and without charcoal DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 TABLES TABLE 1 PK parameters estimated for clopidogrel acyl glucuronide and clopidogrel carboxylic acid after intravenous and oral administration of 200µL solution 1.25mg/ml clopidogrel acyl glucuronide in mice Oral administration (N = 35, parallel, 5 animals per (N= 30, parallel, 5 animals per sampling point) sampling point) Cmax AUC0-t Cmax AUC0-t [±SD] [±SD] (ng/mL) (ng*h/mL) 2280 4586 [±331] [±807] 45000 93660 [± 5207] [±13806] Tmax Clopidogrel acyl [±SD] [±SD] (ng/mL) (ng*h/mL) 23454 15425 (h) Tmax 0.3 glucuronide [±1755] [±8645] Clopidogrel 18395 99265 1.0 6.0 carboxylic acid [±1382] [±4980] 31 (h) 1.0 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 Intravenous administration DMD Fast Forward. Published on July 11, 2016 as DOI: 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. DMD # 71092 TABLE 2 Main pharmacokinetic parameters determined in human volunteers (N=6) for clopidogrel, clopidogrel carboxylic acid and clopidogrel acyl glucuronide after oral dosing with Plavix 75mg with and without subsequent administration of activated charcoal (in a randomized, two-way cross-over design study) Result of ANOVA for No Parameter Charcoal With Charcoal Charcoal ratio (GeoMean) (GeoMean) 0.700 0.741 (ng/mL) [±0.402] [±0.343] AUC0-t [±SD] 1.778 2.396 (ng*h/mL) [±1.559] [±0.982] Clopidogrel Cmax [±SD] 2735.808 2589.044 carboxylic acid (ng/mL) [±587] [±729] AUC0-t [±SD] 9599.435 Clopidogrel acyl glucuronide [±4468] [±1460] Cmax [±SD] 428.937 419.236 (ng/mL) [±83] [±74] (ng*h/mL) [±673] effect (p-Value, interpretation) 105.939% 7.51009E-01, N. S. 134.796% 5.53473E-02, N. S. 94.635% 6.34597E-01, N. S. 104.582% 8.04498E-01, N. S. 97.738% 6.53555E-01, N.S. 110.326% 3.44311E-01, N. S. 10039.278 (ng*h/mL) AUC0-t [±SD] 1372.074 (%) Treatment as fixed 1513.754 [±591] N.S., not significant 32 Downloaded from dmd.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on October 13, 2016 Cmax [±SD] Clopidogrel Charcoal/No DMD Fast Forward. Published on July as DOI: COOCH 3 10.1124/dmd.116.071092 H 11, 2016 This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. N S Cl Clopidogrel CYP450 H esterase O COOCH3 N N O OH S Cl Clopidogrel carboxylic metabolite S Cl 2-oxo-Clopidogrel CYP450 UDP-glucuronosyltransferase PON 1 H HOOC COOCH3 H N HS HOOC HS COOCH3 H N O O Cl Thiol active metabolite Cl Clopidogrel "endo" thiol metabolite O CO2H OH OH OH N S Cl Clopidogrel acyl glucuronide Figure 1