Effect of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 on efflux transport of rebamipide in Caco-2 cells

Abstract

1. Effect of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, on efflux transport of rebamipide, an antiulcer drug, was investigated in Caco-2 cells.

2. Rebamipide had a greater basal-to-apical than apical-to-basal transport rate. Efflux transport of rebamipide was inhibited by cyclosporine A, a P-gp inhibitor, and probenecid, which is a general MRP inhibitor, but not by Ko143, a BCRP inhibitor.

3. By the addition of IL-6, mannitol transport was slightly increased in a concentration-dependent manner in both directions of absorption and efflux. The addition of IL-6 did not change efflux transport of rebamipide even though efflux transport of digoxin, a typical substrate of P-gp, was significantly decreased by the addition of IL-6, indicating decrease of the function of P-gp.

4. Therefore, it was suggested that increase of MRP(s)-mediated transport compensates for the decrease of P-gp mediated transport of rebamipide. These findings suggested that rebamipide absorption is unlikely to be changed in IBD patients.

Keywords:

• Caco-2 cells
• efflux transporters
• intestinal drug absorption
• IL-6
• permeability
• rebamipide

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.