Abstract
Insects have been proposed as a new tool in early drug development. It was recently demonstrated, that locusts have an efflux transporter localized in the brain barrier that is functionally similar to the mammalian P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporter. Two insect BBB models have been put forward, an ex vivo model and an in vivo model. In order to use the in vivo model it is necessary to fully characterize the locust as an entire organism with regards to metabolism pathways and excretion rate. In the present study, we have characterized the locust metabolism of terfenadine, a compound that in humans is specific to the cytochrome P450 enzyme 3A4. Using high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) coupled to UHPLC we have detected metabolites identical to human metabolites of terfenadine. The formation of human metabolites in locusts was inhibited by ketoconazole, a mammalian P450 3A4 inhibitor, suggesting that the enzyme responsible for the human metabolite formation in locusts is functionally similar to human P450 3A4. Besides the human metabolites of terfenadine, additional metabolites were formed in locusts. These were tentatively identified as phosphate and glucose conjugates. In conclusion, locusts may not only be a model useful for determining BBB permeation, but possibly insects could be used in metabolism investigation. However, extensive characterization of the insect model is necessary in order to determine the applicability.
- CYP inhibition
- CYP3A
- cytochrome P450 catalyzed oxidations
- enzyme mechanism
- inhibition
- metabolite identification
- metabolite kinetics
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics