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

  • Materno-fetal Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

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. The increase in LF accumulation by Cyclosporin A, Verapamil and Quercetin was by 30, 90 and 80%, respectively. Cimetidine, the organic cation inhibitor, increased the transport of LF by 48%. Lactic acid and salicylic acid, the MCT substrates, initially decreased the accumulation of LF by 30% and subsequently increased the uptake of LF by 500 and 53%, respectively.

Conclusions

The uptake of LF by human trophoblast cells is mediated by multiple transporters as well as passive diffusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Hana Polachek, Mazal Rubin, Valeria Feinshtein & Zvi Ben-Zvi

  2. Pharmaceutical Services, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Hana Polachek

  3. Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, P.O. Box 151, 84101, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Gershon Holcberg & Eyal Sheiner

  4. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Joseph Polachek

Authors
  1. Hana Polachek
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  2. Gershon Holcberg
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  3. Joseph Polachek
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  4. Mazal Rubin
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  5. Valeria Feinshtein
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  6. Eyal Sheiner
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  7. Zvi Ben-Zvi
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hana Polachek, Gershon Holcberg or Zvi Ben-Zvi.

Additional information

G. Holcberg and Z. Ben-Zvi contributed equally to this work.

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Polachek, H., Holcberg, G., Polachek, J. et al. Carrier-mediated uptake of Levofloxacin by BeWo cells, a human trophoblast cell line. Arch Gynecol Obstet 281, 833–838 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-009-1177-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-009-1177-y

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