Concentrative drug transport

The removal of released DA from the synaptic extracellular space to facilitate its intraneuronal metabolism is achieved by a membrane transporter that controls the synaptic concentration. This transporter has been shown to be a 619 amino-acid protein with 12 hydrophobic membrane spanning domains (see Giros and Caron 1993). Although it has similar amino-acid sequences to that of the NA (and GABA) transporter, there are sufficient differences for it to show some specificity. Thus DA terminals will not concentrate NA and the DA transporter is blocked by a drug such as nomifensine which has less effect on NA uptake. Despite this selectivity some compounds, e.g. amphetamine and 6-OHDA (but not MPTP), can be taken up by both neurons. The role of blocking DA uptake in the central actions of cocaine and amphetamine is considered later (Chapter 23). 

Mata, J. F., et al. Role of the human concentrative nucleoside transporter (hCNTl) in the cytotoxic action of 5[Prime]-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, an active intermediate metabolite of capecitabine, a novel oral anticancer drug. Mol. Pharmacol. 2001, 59, 1542— 1548. 

Because the amounts and density of these transporters vary along the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to introduce a correction factor for the varying transport rates in the different luminal and enterocyte compartments. Due to the lack of experimental data for the regional distribution, and Michaelis-Menten constants for each drug in Table 18.2, we fitted an intrinsic (concentration-independent) transport rate for each drug to closely approximate the experimental %HIA. This... 

We then used this Caco-2 cell assay to categorize representative fluoroquinolone drug substance permeability [50], The drugs demonstrated some concentration-dependent permeability indicative of active drug transport. Based upon comparison to labetalol, ciprofloxacin was classified as a LP drug, whereas levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, and ofloxacin were classified as HP drugs, which matched their human in vivo bioavailabilities. All four fluoroquinolone drugs were subject to efflux transport (ciprofloxacin > lomefloxacin > rhodamine 123 > levofloxacin > ofloxacin). 

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