The role of various transporters in the placental uptake of ofloxacin in an in vitro model of human villous trophoblasts.

Introduction: Six years after the US Food and Drug Administration approval of the broad-spectrum antibiotic ofloxacin (OFLX), the chiral switching of this racemic mixture resulted in a drug composed of the L-optical isomer levofloxacin (LVFX). Since both fluoroquinolones (FQs) were introduced to the pharmaceutical market, they have been widely prescribed by physicians, with careful administration during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore, the role of the influx and efflux placental transporters in the concentrations of these drugs that permeate through human placental barrier model was investigated in this study.

Nitrofurantoin transport by placental choriocarcinoma JAr cells: involvement of BCRP, OATP2B1 and other MDR transporters.

Objective: To determine the role of BCRP in nitrofurantoin (NF) transport in JAr cells and the possible contribution of OATP2B1, P-gp and MRPs to this transport.

Methods: Cells were incubated with various BCRP, P-gp, MRPs, organic anion transporting polypeptide (OAT) and OATP2B1 inhibitors for 15 min, followed by incubation for 30 min with NF, with or without the inhibitors mentioned earlier. NF cytotoxicity was examined using neutral red (NR) assay.

Carrier-mediated uptake of Levofloxacin by BeWo cells, a human trophoblast cell line.

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.

Inhibition of prostaglandins does not reduce the cardiovascular changes during endotoxemia in rats.

Vasodilatory prostanoids, such as prostacyclin and PGE2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines are known to play a central role in the pathogenesis of endotoxemia. This study was undertaken to elucidate whether indomethacin (INDO), a non-selective COX inhibitor, has protective effects against the cardiovascular alterations that occur during endotoxemia. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with 15 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Effects of nimesulide, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, on cardiovascular alterations in endotoxemia.

Prostanoids and cytokines are known to play a pivotal role in the mechanisms leading to endotoxin-induced cardiovascular failure. We investigated the effect of nimesulide (NIM), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, on the cardiovascular alterations occurring during endotoxemia, and on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels in endotoxemic rats. NIM significantly reduced endotoxin-induced elevation of plasma and myocardial levels of TNF-alpha, but not those of IL-1beta.

Channel modulators affect PGE(2) binding to bovine aortic endothelial cells.

PGE(2), PGF(2alpha) and the thromboxane agonist U-46619 bind to bovine aortic endothelial cells and compete on the same binding site with similar affinity. In addition, binding remains unaffected by prolonged exposure to the ligand. These characteristics differ significantly from those of any known G-coupled prostaglandin receptor.