592

IDENTIFICATION OF TIGHT JUNCTION MODULATING LIPIDS.

Chen-Quay, S-C., Eiting, K.T., Li, A.W.-A., Lamharzi, N., Quay, S.C. . Nastech Pharmaceutical Company, Inc., 3830 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, Washington.
Abstract

Tight junctions (TJs) play an important role in regulating paracellular drug transport. The aim of this study was to identify lipids that rapidly and reversibly alter transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and/or TJ permeability in epithelial tissue. In this study, we developed a screen for identifying lipids that alter TJ properties. Measurement of TER was used to monitor TJ activity on bronchial/tracheal epithelial tissues using a microtiter format. Among seven groups of lipids tested, four classes were identified as TJ modulators (sphingosines, alkylglycosides, oxidized lipids and ether lipids). Individual lipids within these four classes showed up to 95% TER reduction at noncytotoxic concentrations. Alkylglycosides, however, showed high cytotoxicity and low viability at concentrations (0.2–0.4%) reported to enhance transmucosal absorption (Ahsan et al., 2003, Int J Pham 251: 195–203). Several active lipids also showed enhanced permeation of FITC-labeled dextran (m.w. 3000). Immunofluorescence staining of PGPC-treated cells with antibodies against ZO-1, occludin and claudin 4 showed no detectable changes in TJ structural morphology, indicating that a nondestructive, submicroscopic alteration in TJ function may be involved in TER reduction and permeation enhancement. This study demonstrates that three new classes of lipids, excluding alkylglycosides, show potential utility for transmucosal drug delivery.

Keywords

AIR-100, AIR-196-HTS, Alkylglycosides, Ceramides, Claudin, EpiAirway, Epithelial delivery/permeability, Ether lipids, FITC-labeled dextran, Glycosylated 0sphingosine, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Lipids/lipoproteins, MTT, Mucosal delivery, Nasal absorption, Occludin, Oxidized lipid, Paracellular drug transport, Permeability assays, Tight junction modulating lipids, Tight junctions (TJs), Transepithelial electrical resistance, Transmucosal drug delivery, ZO-1

Materials Tested

Alkylglycosides, C10 sucrose, C12 maltose, C14 maltose, C6 glucose, C7 glucose, C8 glucose, Ceramides, Ether lipids, Glycosylated sphingosine, Oxidized lipids, Sphingosines

Request a copy of this paper, click here.