The objective of this study was to determine the distribution profile of the novel endotoxin antagonist E5564 in plasma obtained from fasted human subjects with various lipid concentrations. Radiolabeled E5564 at 1 M was incubated in fasted plasma from seven human subjects with various total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations for 0.5 to 6 h at 37°C. Following these incubations, plasma samples were separated into their lipoprotein and lipoprotein-deficient fractions by ultracentrifugation and were assayed for E5564 radioactivity. TC, TG, and protein concentrations in each fraction were determined by enzymatic assays. Lipoprotein surface charge within control and phosphatidylinositol-treated plasma and E5564's influence on cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfer activity were also determined. We observed that the majority of E5564 was recovered in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction. We further observed that incubation in plasma with increased levels of TG-rich lipoprotein (TRL) lipid (TC and TG) concentrations resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of E5564 recovered in the TRL fraction. In further experiments, E5564 was preincubated in human TRL. Then, these mixtures were incubated in hypolipidemic human plasma for 0.5 and 6 h at 37°C. Preincubation of E5564 in purified TRL prior to incubation in human plasma resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of drug recovered in the HDL fraction and an increase in the percentage of drug recovered in the TRL and low-density lipoprotein fractions. These findings suggest that the majority of the drug binds to HDLs. Preincubation of E5564 in TRL prior to incubation in normolipidemic plasma significantly decreased the percentage of drug recovered in the HDL fraction. Modifications to the lipoprotein negative charge did not alter the E5564 concentration in the HDL fraction. In addition, E5564 does not influence CETP-mediated transfer activity. Information from these studies could be used to help identify the possible components of lipoproteins which influence the interaction of E5564 with specific lipoprotein particles.Inflammatory shock as a consequence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or endotoxin release from gram-negative bacteria remains a serious clinical concern (3). In humans, inflammatory responses to LPS result in the release of cytokines and other cell mediators from monocytes and macrophages, which can cause fever, shock, organ failure, and death (3). A number of different approaches have been investigated to try to treat and/or prevent the septic shock associated with infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, including blocking of one or more of the cytokines induced by LPS (14). Recently, novel amphipathic compounds E5531 and E5564 have been developed as direct antagonists of LPS at the LPS receptor, TLR4 (5).Our laboratory has previously reported that the majority of E5531 (an analogue of E5564 which has chemical properties and pharmacological activity similar to those of E5531) associates with high-d...

Lipoproteins are a heterogeneous population of macromolecular aggregates of lipids and proteins that are responsible for the transport of lipids through the vascular and extravascular fluids from their site of synthesis or absorption to peripheral tissues. Lipoproteins are involved in other biological processes as well, including coagulation and tissue repair, and serve as carriers of a number of hydrophobic compounds within the systemic circulation. It has been well documented that disease states (eg, AIDS, diabetes, cancer) significantly influence circulating lipoprotein content and composition. Therefore, it appears possible that changes in the lipoprotein profile would affect not only the ability of a compound to associate with lipoproteins but also the distribution of the compound within the lipoprotein subclasses. Such an effect could alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacological action of the drug. This paper reviews the factors that i nfluence the interaction of one model hydrophobic compound, cyclosporine A, with lipoproteins and the implications of altered plasma lipoprotein concentrations on the pharmacological behavior of this compound.

ABSTRACTusing liquid scintillation counting in a Beckman LS6500 Scintillation Counter. Dose-response and time course studies were performed in which control (no FM-VP4 treatment) and FM-VP4 (10-100 μM) were co-incubated with 50-μM [ 3 H]cholesterol micelles from 1 minute to 24 hours. Incubation with only 50-μM FM-VP4 for less than 24 hours resulted in a 50% to 60% reduction (n = 6, P < .05) in [ 3

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