Pharmacokinetics of 1-methyl-L-tryptophan after single and repeated subcutaneous application in a porcine model

Exp Anim. 2016 May 20;65(2):147-55. doi: 10.1538/expanim.15-0096. Epub 2015 Dec 28.

Abstract

Increased activity of the tryptophan-metabolizing enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is associated with immunological and neurological disorders, and inhibition of its enzyme activity could be a therapeutic approach for treatment of these disorders. The aim of the present study was to establish a large animal model to study the accumulation of the potential IDO inhibitor 1-methyltryptophan (1-MT) in blood and different organs of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica). Because 1-MT has not been previously evaluated in pigs, the pharmacokinetics of a single subcutaneous 1-MT application was investigated. Based on this kinetic study, a profile for repeated 1-MT applications over a period of five days was simulated and tested. The results show that a single administration of 1-MT increases its concentrations in blood, with the maximum concentration being obtained at 12 h. Repeated daily injections of 1‑MT generated increasing plasma concentrations followed by a steady-state after two days. Twelve hours after the final application, accumulation of 1-MT was observed in the brain and other organs, with a substantial variability among various tissues. The concentrations of 1-MT measured in plasma and tissues were similar to, or even higher, than those of tryptophan. Our data indicate that repeated subcutaneous injections of 1-MT provide a suitable model for accumulation of 1-MT in plasma and tissues of domestic pigs. These findings provide a basis for further research on the immunoregulatory functions of IDO in a large animal model.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / blood
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics*
  • Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Models, Animal*
  • Swine / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tryptophan / administration & dosage
  • Tryptophan / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tryptophan / blood
  • Tryptophan / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase
  • Tryptophan
  • 1-methyltryptophan