In vitro hepatic metabolism of mefloquine using microsomes from cats, dogs and the common brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 14;15(4):e0230975. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230975. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a systemic, fatal, viral-induced, immune-mediated disease of cats caused by feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). Mefloquine, a human anti-malarial agent, has been shown to inhibit FIPV in vitro. As a first step to evaluate its efficacy and safety profile as a potential FIP treatment for cats, mefloquine underwent incubation in feline, canine and common brush-tailed possum microsomes and phase I metabolism cofactors to determine its rate of phase I depletion. Tramadol was used as a phase I positive control as it undergoes this reaction in both dogs and cats. Using the substrate depletion method, the in vitro intrinsic clearance (mean ± S.D.) of mefloquine by pooled feline and common brush-tailed possum microsomes was 4.5 ± 0.35 and 18.25 ± 3.18 μL/min/mg protein, respectively. However, phase I intrinsic clearance was too slow to determine with canine microsomes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) identified carboxymefloquine in samples generated by feline microsomes as well as negative controls, suggesting some mefloquine instability. Mefloquine also underwent incubation with feline, canine and common brush-tailed possum microsomes and phase II glucuronidative metabolism cofactors. O-desmethyltramadol (ODMT or M1) was used as a positive control as it undergoes a phase II glucuronidation reaction in these species. The rates of phase II mefloquine depletion by microsomes by all three species were too slow to estimate. Therefore mefloquine likely undergoes phase I hepatic metabolism catalysed by feline and common brush-tailed possum microsomes but not phase II glucuronidative metabolism in all three species and mefloquine is not likely to have delayed elimination in cats with clinically normal, hepatic function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / metabolism*
  • Antimalarials / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Caliciviridae Infections / drug therapy
  • Caliciviridae Infections / metabolism
  • Caliciviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Calicivirus, Feline
  • Cats
  • Coronavirus, Feline
  • Dogs
  • Drug Repositioning / veterinary
  • Feline Infectious Peritonitis / drug therapy
  • Feline Infectious Peritonitis / metabolism
  • Feline Infectious Peritonitis / virology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mefloquine / metabolism*
  • Mefloquine / pharmacokinetics
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity
  • Trichosurus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Mefloquine

Grants and funding

M.G. and J.M.N received the following awards from the following funders to undertake this research: Winn Feline Foundation 16-023 Australian Companion Animal Health Foundation 005/2016 Feline Health Research Foundation University of Sydney IRMA number 183456.