Comparative hepatic and intestinal metabolism and pharmacodynamics of statins

Anne M. Filppula, Päivi Hirvensalo, Heli Parviainen, Vilma E. Ivaska, K. Ivar Lönnberg, Feng Deng, Jenni Viinamäki, Mika Kurkela, Mikko Neuvonen, Mikko Niemi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the in vitro metabolism of statins. The metabolism of clinically relevant concentrations of atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, and their metabolites were investigated using human liver microsomes (HLMs), human intestine microsomes (HIMs), liver cytosol, and recombinant cytochrome P450 enzymes. We also determined the inhibitory effects of statin acids on their pharmacological target, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. In HLMs, statin lactones were metabolized to a much higher extent than their acid forms. Atorvastatin lactone and simvastatin (lactone) showed extensive metabolism [intrinsic clearance (CL int) values of 3700 and 7400 ml/min per milligram], whereas the metabolism of the lactones of 2-hydroxyatorvastatin, 4-hydroxyatorvastatin, and pitavastatin was slower (CL int 20-840 ml/min per milligram). The acids had CL int values in the range <0.1-80 ml/min per milligram. In HIMs, only atorvastatin lactone and simvastatin (lactone) exhibited notable metabolism, with CL int values corresponding to 20% of those observed in HLMs. CYP3A4/5 and CYP2C9 were the main statin-metabolizing enzymes. The majority of the acids inhibited HMG-CoA reductase, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 4-20 nM. The present comparison of the metabolism and pharmacodynamics of the various statins using identical methods provides a strong basis for further application, e.g., comparative systems pharmacology modeling.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)658-667
JournalDrug Metabolism and Disposition
Volume49
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

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