Introduction: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, especially P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and various metabolic enzymes, in particular, CYP3A, expressed in the small intestine cooperatively limit the absorption of orally administered P-gp substrate drugs. The expression and/or function of intestinal P-gp, however, is easily modulated by various factors.Areas covered: Through extensive literature searches primarily utilizing PubMed, the authors reviewed factors that may cause inter- or intra-individual variations of the pharmacokinetics of orally administered P-gp substrate drugs due to the modulation of intestinal P-gp expression/function. The information on P-gp modulating factors can help to develop safer and more reliable oral formulations and pharmacotherapy.Expert opinion: In clinical pharmacotherapy with orally administered P-gp substrate drugs, the pharmacological action may exhibit a large interindividual variation among patients. Factors modulating intestinal P-gp expression/function listed here include: circadian rhythm (or drug dosing time), drug-drug interactions, formulation/excipients (vehicle, nonionic surfactants), food/supplements, gene polymorphism, obesity, colorectal carcinomas, diarrhea, hepatic failure, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia/reperfusion, organ transplant, renal failure, and others. We will discuss the methods for reducing the effect of modulated intestinal P-gp function on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered P-gp substrate drugs to achieve safer and more reliable oral formulations and pharmacotherapy.
Keywords: P-glycoprotein expression; P-glycoprotein function; P-glycoprotein substrate drug; disease; hepatic failure; inflammatory bowel disease; modulation of intestinal P-glycoprotein; oral bioavailability; renal failure.