Inhibition of carboxylesterase-1 alters clopidogrel metabolism and disposition

Abstract

1. Clopidogrel is widely prescribed in patients with cardiovascular disease. Most research has focused on the role of hepatic CYP450 metabolism as the primary source of response variability despite 85–90% of clopidogrel being hydrolyzed by human carboxylesterase-1 (CES1).

2. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the known CES1 inhibitor alcohol on clopidogrel metabolism: (1) in vitro in human recombinant CES1 and human liver S9 (HLS9) fractions and (2) in a plasma carboxylesterase deficient mouse (Es1^e) strain administered 25 mg/kg oral clopidogrel alone and with 3 g/kg alcohol.

3. Alcohol significantly inhibited the hydrolysis of clopidogrel (IC₅₀ 161 mM) and 2-oxo-clopidogrel (IC₅₀ 6 mM). In HLS9, alcohol treatment formed ethylated metabolites via transesterification and an increased formation of the H4 active metabolite. These results were replicated in Es1^e mice as alcohol increased clopidogrel (91%) and H4 (22%) AUC and reduced formation of the clopidogrel (48%) and 2-oxo-clopidogrel (42%) carboxylate metabolites.

4. Clopidogrel metabolism is highly sensitive to alterations in CES1 activity. The Es1^e mouse may represent a suitable model of human CES1 drug metabolism that can be used to rapidly assess how alterations in CES1 function impact the disposition of substrate drugs.

Keywords:

• Clopidogrel
• human carboxylesterase-1
• pharmacokinetics
• drug metabolism
• alcohol
• drug interactions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute [Grants CA108775, AT007531, and a Cancer Center Core Grant CA21685] and the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC).