Itraconazole-induced cholestasis: involvement of the inhibition of bile canalicular phospholipid translocator MDR3/ABCB4

Mol Pharmacol. 2011 Feb;79(2):241-50. doi: 10.1124/mol.110.067256. Epub 2010 Nov 5.

Abstract

Biliary secretion of bile acids and phospholipids, both of which are essential components of biliary micelles, are mediated by the bile salt export pump (BSEP/ABCB11) and multidrug resistance 3 P-glycoprotein (MDR3/ABCB4), respectively, and their genetic dysfunction leads to the acquisition of severe cholestatic diseases. In the present study, we found two patients with itraconazole (ITZ)-induced cholestatic liver injury with markedly high serum ITZ concentrations. To characterize the effect of ITZ on bile formation in vivo, biliary bile acids and phospholipids were analyzed in ITZ-treated rats, and it was revealed that biliary phospholipids, rather than bile acids, were drastically reduced in the presence of clinically relevant concentrations of ITZ. Moreover, by using MDR3-expressing LLC-PK1 cells, we found that MDR3-mediated efflux of [¹⁴C]phosphatidylcholine was significantly reduced by ITZ. In contrast, BSEP-mediated transport of [³H]taurocholate was not significantly affected by ITZ, which is consistent with our in vivo observations. In conclusion, this study suggests the involvement of the inhibition of MDR3-mediated biliary phospholipids secretion in ITZ-induced cholestasis. Our approach may be useful for analyzing mechanisms of drug-induced cholestasis and evaluating the cholestatic potential of clinically used drugs and drug candidates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / blood
  • Antifungal Agents / toxicity*
  • Bile Canaliculi / drug effects*
  • Bile Canaliculi / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cholestasis / chemically induced*
  • Itraconazole / blood
  • Itraconazole / toxicity*
  • LLC-PK1 Cells
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Itraconazole
  • multidrug resistance protein 3