Ablation of both organic cation transporter (OCT)1 and OCT2 alters metformin pharmacokinetics but has no effect on tissue drug exposure and pharmacodynamics

Drug Metab Dispos. 2012 Jun;40(6):1170-7. doi: 10.1124/dmd.112.044875. Epub 2012 Mar 9.

Abstract

Organic cation transporter (OCT)1 and OCT2 mediate hepatic uptake and secretory renal clearance of metformin, respectively. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) implications of simultaneous impairment of both transporters, such as by systemic pan-OCT inhibition, have not been studied directly. At present metformin PK/PD, distribution, and excretion were studied in Oct1/Oct2-knockout mice. Metformin clearance was reduced 4.5-fold from renal blood flow to unbound glomerular filtration rate, and volume of distribution was reduced 3.5-fold in Oct1/Oct2-knockout mice. Oral bioavailability was not affected (F = 64 ± 4 versus 59 ± 11; knockout versus wild type). Liver- and kidney-to-plasma concentration ratios were decreased in Oct1/Oct2-knockout mice 4.2- and 2.5-fold, respectively. The 2.9-fold increase in oral metformin exposure and reduced tissue partitioning yielded little to no net change in tissue drug concentrations. Absolute kidney exposure was unchanged (knockout/wild type = 1.1 ± 0.2), and liver exposure was only modestly decreased (knockout/wild type = 0.6 ± 0.1). Oral glucose area under the curve (AUC) lowering by metformin was not impaired in Oct1/Oct2-knockout mice at the five dose levels tested (ED50 = 151 versus 110 mg/kg; glucose lowering at highest dose = 42 ± 1 versus 39 ± 4%; knockout versus wild type); however, higher systemic metformin exposures were necessary in knockout mice to elicit the same effect (half-maximal efficacious AUC = 70 versus 26 μg x h/ml). Despite major changes in metformin clearance and volume of distribution in Oct1/Oct2-knockout mice, tissue drug exposure and PD were not affected. These findings challenge the presumption that systemic OCT inhibition will affect metformin pharmacology.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metformin / pharmacokinetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1 / deficiency*
  • Organic Cation Transport Proteins / deficiency*
  • Organic Cation Transporter 2
  • Tissue Distribution / drug effects
  • Tissue Distribution / physiology

Substances

  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1
  • Organic Cation Transport Proteins
  • Organic Cation Transporter 2
  • Pou2f1 protein, mouse
  • Slc22a2 protein, mouse
  • Metformin