Competitive binding of bilirubin and drugs to human serum albumin studied by enzymatic oxidation.

The mechanism of drug-induced displacement of bilirubin from the blood into tissues was studied. A model of simple, competitive binding of bilirubin and drug to one site on serum albumin was established. Variations of the free bilirubin concentration after addition of drugs were studied in vitro by measuring velocities of oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and horseradish peroxidase. In all cases, the results were in agreement with the model. The competitive effects of 20 drugs were measured and expressed quantitatively as binding constants to the bilirubin site on human serum albumin. Several drugs caused changes of the bilirubin-albumin light absorption spectrum, indicating simultaneous binding of both ligands, without an effect on the free bilirubin concentration. Noncompetitive site-to-site effects on bilirubin binding could not be demonstrated. An equation is proposed for calculation of the maximal displacing effect of a drug from knowledge of its plasma concentration, the above-determined binding constant, and the degree of protein binding of the drug. Comparison of these results with previous observations of bilirubin displacement in newborn humans and in experimental animals indicates a general agreement with a simple competitive mechanism of binding of bilirubin and drug to one site on the albumin molecule. Binding of drugs to other, noncompetitive sites is common.