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Intestinal Transport of β-Lactam Antibiotics: Analysis of the Affinity at the H+/Peptide Symporter (PEPT1), the Uptake into Caco-2 Cell Monolayers and the Transepithelial Flux

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Abstract

Purpose. This study on the intestinal transport of β-lactam antibiotics was undertaken to investigate the correlation between cellular transport parameters and the bioavailability.

Methods. Transport of 23 β-lactam antibiotics was characterized by measuring their ability to inhibit the uptake of glycylsarcosine into Caco-2 cells, their uptake into the cells and their total flux across the cell monolayers.

Results. Ceftibuten and cyclacillin were recognized by PEPT1 with affinity constants comparable to those of natural dipeptides (Ki = 0.3 and 0.5 mM, respectively). Cefadroxil, cefamandole, cephradine, cefaclor, cefuroxime-axetil, cefixime, cephalotin, cephalexin and ampicillin also interacted with PEPT1 (Ki = 7-14 mM). In contrast, cefapirin, cefodizime, cefuroxime, cefmetazole, ceftazidime, benzyl-penicillin, ceftriaxone, cefpirome, cefotaxime, cefepime, cephaloridine and cefsulodin displayed no affinity to the transport system (Ki > 20 mM). The uptake into the cells and the transepithelial flux was highest for those β-lactam antibiotics, which showed the strongest inhibition of [14C]Gly-Sar transport (p < 0.0001). Exceptions were cefuroxim-axetil and cephalotin.

Conclusions. The probability of oral bioavailability for β-lactam antibiotics is mainly determined by their affinity to PEPT1. A threshold Ki value of 14 mM with respect to Gly-Sar uptake is required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Strasse 4, D-06120, Halle, Germany

    Beate Bretschneider & Reinhard Neubert

  2. Biozentrum of the University, Weinbergweg 22, D-06120, Halle, Germany

    Matthias Brandsch

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  1. Beate Bretschneider
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  2. Matthias Brandsch
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Correspondence to Reinhard Neubert.

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Bretschneider, B., Brandsch, M. & Neubert, R. Intestinal Transport of β-Lactam Antibiotics: Analysis of the Affinity at the H+/Peptide Symporter (PEPT1), the Uptake into Caco-2 Cell Monolayers and the Transepithelial Flux. Pharm Res 16, 55–61 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018814627484

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