In vitro stability and metabolism of O2′, O3′, O5′-tri-acetyl-N⁶-(3-hydroxylaniline) adenosine in rat, dog and human plasma: Chemical hydrolysis and role of plasma esterases

Abstract

1. O2′, O3′, O5′-tri-acetyl-N⁶-(3-hydroxylaniline)adenosine (WS070117), a new structure-type lipid regulator, is being developed in pre-clinical study. In order to monitor drug kinetics it is essential to understand pre-analytical factors that may affect drug assay.

2. In vitro stability and metabolism were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method in this study. The hydrolysis products were identified by HPLC–mass spectrometry (MS)/MS method. The esterases involved in WS070117 hydrolysis was assigned via inhibition rate assay.

3. It was found that WS070117 was chemically unstable in alkaline solutions compared to acidic and near neutral solutions. Enzymatic hydrolysis was even more rapid. Hydrolytic rate constants differ between species, being 4.24, 5.96 × 10⁻³ and 6.85 × 10⁻² min⁻¹ in rat, dog and human plasma at 37°C, respectively. The hydrolysis was catalyzed by plasma esterase because NaF (sodium fluoride: a general esterase inhibitor) inhibited WS070117 hydrolysis and metabolite production. Hydrolysis was fast in rat plasma and was catalysed by carboxylesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. In dog plasma, carboxylesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and paraoxonase were mainly responsible. Butyrylcholinesterase was the major esterase involved in WS070117 hydrolysis in human plasma. The WS070117 hydrolysis in plasma proceeded by gradual loss of acetyl groups.

4. The knowledge of in vitro drug stability and metabolic pathways identified in this study will be essential for future pre-clinical and clinical pharmacokinetics studies.

Keywords::

• Ester pro-drug
• esterase
• specific esterase inhibitor
• stability and metabolism
• HPLC–MS/MS method