Effect of pharmacological modulation of liver P-glycoproteins on cyclosporin A biliary excretion and cholestasis: a study in isolated perfused rat liver

Abstract

In different cell types P-glycoproteins (P-gp) are involved in the transport of cyclosporin A (CyA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the pharmacological modulation of the hepatic P-gp on biliary secretion of CyA and on cholestasis induced by acute administration of CyA in the isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL). Verapamil was used as a P-gp specific inhibitor and acetylaminofluorene (AAF) as a P-gp inducer. CyA biliary excretion was determined by administering in the IPRL a tracer dose of [3H]CyA with or without verapamil or AAF. The effect on bile flow was evaluated by administering increasing doses of CyA (2.8, 8, and 20 mg/kg body wt) in the IPRL. Morphological evidence of damage was evaluated by optical and electron microscopy in the liver as well as in primary culture of rat hepatocytes exposed to CyA +/- verapamil. Verapamil significantly inhibited the biliary excretion of a tracer dose of [3H]CyA (0.15+/-0.04 vs 0.33+/-0.07%; P < 0.05). In contrast, pretreatment with AAF significantly increased the biliary excretion of [3H]CyA, (0.61+/-0.10 vs 0.33+/-0.07%; P < 0.05). CyA induced a dose-dependent inhibition of bile flow with a maximal effect at 20 mg/kg CyA (-49.3+/-4.5% decrease of basal bile flow). CyA cholestasis was significantly worsened by the P-gp inhibitor, verapamil (-75.5+/-7.5%; P < 0.05), but it was unaffected by induction of P-gp via AAF pretreatment (-44.9+/-1.7%). During CyA cholestasis, the cumulative biliary excretion of [3H]CyA was lower than in the absence of cholestasis (0.22+/-0.05 vs 0.33+/-0.07%; P < 0.05), was inhibited by verapamil (0.08+/-0.01%; P < 0.05), but was unaffected by AAF (0.23+/-0.05%). No morphological evidence of damage was observed in the liver, and no evidence of cytoskeleton derangement was seen in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes exposed to CyA +/- verapamil. We demonstrated that pharmacological modulation of P-gp may influence the biliary excretion of CyA. The acute cholestatic effect of CyA is worsened by P-gp inhibitors, while it is unaffected by P-gp inducers. This indicates CyA should not be given with other P-gp substrates or inhibitors.