Modulation of intestinal P-glycoprotein function by cremophor EL and other surfactants by an in vitro diffusion chamber method using the isolated rat intestinal membranes.

Effects of various surfactants on the transport of rhodamine123, a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, across the isolated rat intestinal membranes were examined by an in vitro diffusion chamber system. The jejunal serosal-to-mucosal transport (Jsm) of rhodamine123 was more than threefold greater than its mucosal-to-serosal transport (Jms), suggesting that the net movement of rhodamine123 across the rat jejunum was preferentially secretory direction. There exists a regional difference in the intestinal transport of rhodamine123 and the secretory directed transport was remarkably observed in the jejunum. The Jsm/Jms ratio of rhodamine123 decreased in the presence of 0.3 mM verapamil and 10 mM sodium azide (NaN3) + 1 mM sodium fluoride (NaF), confirming that rhodamine123 might be secreted from the intestinal tissue into the lumen by a P-gp-mediated efflux system. Nonionic surfactants [0.1% Cremophor EL, Tween 80 and n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltopyranoside (LM)] reduced the Jsm/Jms ratio of rhodamine123, whereas its ratio was not influenced in the presence of 0.1% cationic surfactant (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, C16TAB) and anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Therefore, these findings suggested that charge of surfactants was possibly related to the action of these surfactants on the intestinal absorption of P-gp substrates. On the other hand, the transfer of rhodamine123 was not affected by the addition of Cremophor EL to the serosal side. Because the c.m.c. of Cremophor EL is 0.0095 w/v%, interactions between rhodamine123 and the micellar form of Cremophor EL may decrease the P-gp-mediated efflux of rhodamine123 at higher concentrations. In the kinetic analysis, the Vmax value (nmol/min/g wet tissue) of rhodamine123 decreased, although the Km value (mM) was constant in the presence of Cremophor EL. Therefore, Cremophor EL inhibited the efflux transport of rhodamine123 in a noncompetitive manner. Cremophor EL did not affect the transport of [14C]Gly-Sar and [3H]3-O-methyl-D-glucose, suggesting that the action of Cremophor EL might be P-gp specific. These findings indicated that nonionic surfactants including Cremophor EL and Tween 80 may be useful pharmaceutical excipients for inhibiting the function of P-gp, thereby increasing the intestinal absorption of various drugs, which are secreted by a P-gp-mediated efflux system in the intestine. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.