Ivermectin induces P-glycoprotein expression and function through mRNA stabilization in murine hepatocyte cell line.

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Menez C, Mselli-Lakhal L, Foucaud-Vignault M, Balaguer P, Alvinerie M, Lespine A

Ivermectin induces P-glycoprotein expression and function through mRNA stabilization in murine hepatocyte cell line.

Biochem Pharmacol. 2012 Jan 15;83(2):269-78. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.10.010. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

PubMed ID

22024132 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Ivermectin is widely used in human and veterinary medicine for the control of helminth infections. Ivermectin is known to interact with P-glycoprotein (P-gp/MDR1), being a good substrate and a potent inhibitor, however, the influence of ivermectin on the expression of the transporter has not been investigated. Expression of P-glycoprotein was investigated in cultured mouse hepatocytes acutely exposed to ivermectin. The two P-glycoprotein murine isoforms, Mdr1a and Mdr1b, mRNA levels were assessed by real-time RT-PCR. Ivermectin induced a clear time- and concentration-dependent up-regulation of Mdr1a and Mdr1b mRNA levels (as early as a 12-h exposure and up to 2.5-fold at 10muM). Moreover, ivermectin-treated cells displayed enhanced cellular efflux of the P-glycoprotein substrate calcein that was inhibited by the P-glycoprotein blocker valspodar, providing evidence that the ivermectin-induced P-glycoprotein was functional. The mechanisms underlying these effects were investigated. Ivermectin-mediated Mdr1 mRNA induction was independent of the two nuclear receptors CAR and PXR, which are known to be involved in drug transporters regulation. Moreover, by using reporter cell lines that detects specific ligand-activated transcription factors, we showed that ivermectin did not displayed CAR, PXR or AhR ligand activities. However, studies with actinomycin D revealed that the half-life of Mdr1a and Mdr1b mRNA were significantly prolonged by two-fold in ivermectin-treated cells suggesting a post-transcriptional mode of ivermectin regulation. This study demonstrates for the first time that ivermectin induces P-glycoprotein overexpression through post-transcriptional mRNA stabilization, thus offering insight into the mechanism of reduced therapeutic efficacy and development of ivermectin-resistant parasites.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Transporters

Drug	Transporter	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Ivermectin	P-glycoprotein 1	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate Inhibitor Inducer	Details