The anthelminthic agent albendazole does not interact with p-glycoprotein

Drug Metab Dispos. 2002 Apr;30(4):365-9. doi: 10.1124/dmd.30.4.365.

Abstract

Albendazole is a clinically important anthelminthic agent known to have variable and low oral bioavailability. The aim of this work was to determine whether albendazole, a CYP3A4 substrate, is also a substrate for the multidrug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein. Both in vitro and in vivo methods were used to assess the role of P-glycoprotein-mediated albendazole transport. In cultured LLC-PK1, L-MDR1, and Caco-2 cells, albendazole was found not to be a P-glycoprotein substrate; the transport across LLC-PK1 and L-MDR1 cells revealed basal to apical versus apical to basal transport to a similar extent. In addition, there was no inhibitory effect of albendazole on digoxin transport in Caco-2 cells, and P-glycoprotein inhibitors (verapamil and quinidine) did not affect transport across Caco-2 cells. The in vivo relevance of P-glycoprotein to albendazole disposition was assessed using mdr1a/1b(-/-) mice after intravenous administration of albendazole (15 mg/kg). A similar pattern of tissue distribution in both P-glycoprotein-deficient and wild-type mice was observed. In conclusion, albendazole is neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein. Therefore, interactions between albendazole and P-glycoprotein substrates or inhibitors are unlikely to be clinically important.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / deficiency
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / genetics
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism*
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Albendazole / metabolism*
  • Albendazole / pharmacokinetics
  • Albendazole / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / metabolism*
  • Anthelmintics / pharmacokinetics
  • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Digoxin / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • LLC-PK1 Cells
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Quinidine / pharmacology
  • Swine
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Verapamil / pharmacology

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Anthelmintics
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Digoxin
  • multidrug resistance protein 3
  • Verapamil
  • Albendazole
  • Quinidine