Glibenclamide modulates glucantime activity and disposition in Leishmania major

Exp Parasitol. 2009 Apr;121(4):331-7. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2008.12.008. Epub 2008 Dec 25.

Abstract

A source of chemotherapeutic failure in anti-infective therapies is the active movement of drugs across membranes, through ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. In fact, simultaneous administration of therapeutic drugs with ABC transporter blockers has been invoked to be the way to actively prevent the emergence of drug resistance. Herein, we demonstrate that glucantime's efficacy in decreasing the infection rate of Leishmania-infected macrophages is strongly enhanced when used in combination with glibenclamide, a specific blocker of ABC transporters. Intracellular ABC transporters mediate glucantime sequestration in intracellular organelles. Their selective inhibition may effectively increase the cytoplasmic concentration of glucantime and its leishmanicidal activity. Our results reveal for the first time that glibenclamide targets in Leishmania major a compartment associated with a multivesicular system that is simultaneously labeled by the acidic marker LysoTracker-red and may represent the organelle where antimonials are sequestered. These results constitute a proof of concept that conclusively demonstrates the potential value that combination therapy with an ABC transporter blocker may have for leishmaniasis therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / metabolism
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Synergism
  • Glyburide / metabolism
  • Glyburide / pharmacology*
  • Leishmania major / drug effects*
  • Leishmania major / metabolism
  • Leishmania major / ultrastructure
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / parasitology
  • Meglumine / metabolism
  • Meglumine / pharmacology*
  • Meglumine Antimoniate
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Organometallic Compounds / metabolism
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Meglumine
  • Meglumine Antimoniate
  • Amphotericin B
  • Glyburide