Investigation of Drug-Drug Effects of Propranolol and Clomipramine in Rat Liver Microsome using HPLC and Compact Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Polypharmacy is widely practiced today. One example is the combination of antidepressants and hypertensive drugs, as it has been found that 57.5% of people with hypertension also develop depression symptoms. The effects of propranolol (a beta blocker) on the metabolism of clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) were investigated to recreate this combination, using rat liver microsomes, HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), and CMS (compact mass spectrometry).

In the experiment, varying quantities of clomipramine, propranolol (inhibitor), NADPH, and rat liver microsome were incubated and diluted in HPLC mobile phase to be loaded onto the CMS fitted with a reverse phase column. Rat liver microsomes have similar metabolizing enzymes as the human liver. Clomipramine in the liver is metabolized by enzymes CYP2D6, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP2C19. These enzymes catalyze the metabolism of different functional groups on the clomipramine (CYP2D6 catalyzes aromatic hydroxylation, while CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 drives demethylation of the amino group). The metabolism type we specifically probed was mono-demethylation of the amino group on clomipramine.

The results agree with the hypothesized inhibitory effect of propranolol. The concentration of propranolol at 50% inhibition of demethylation under these conditions was found to be 1.33 mM. (IC50 = 1.33 mM). Concentration of unmetabolized clomipramine increased by 9.3% with increasing concentration of propranolol. Propranolol is a substrate for enzymes CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, competing with clomipramine in binding the active sites of the enzymes, thus decreasing the concentration of desmethylated clomipramine while increasing the concentration of clomipramine. This experiment could guide medical practitioners when prescribing antidepressants and hypertensive drugs together.

College

College of Science & Engineering

Department

Chemistry

Campus

Winona

First Advisor/Mentor

Myoung Lee

Start Date

4-19-2023 1:00 PM

End Date

4-19-2023 2:00 PM

Presentation Type

Poster Session

Format of Presentation or Performance

In-Person

Session

2a=1pm-2pm

Poster Number

10

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Apr 19th, 1:00 PM Apr 19th, 2:00 PM

Investigation of Drug-Drug Effects of Propranolol and Clomipramine in Rat Liver Microsome using HPLC and Compact Mass Spectrometry

Polypharmacy is widely practiced today. One example is the combination of antidepressants and hypertensive drugs, as it has been found that 57.5% of people with hypertension also develop depression symptoms. The effects of propranolol (a beta blocker) on the metabolism of clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) were investigated to recreate this combination, using rat liver microsomes, HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), and CMS (compact mass spectrometry).

In the experiment, varying quantities of clomipramine, propranolol (inhibitor), NADPH, and rat liver microsome were incubated and diluted in HPLC mobile phase to be loaded onto the CMS fitted with a reverse phase column. Rat liver microsomes have similar metabolizing enzymes as the human liver. Clomipramine in the liver is metabolized by enzymes CYP2D6, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP2C19. These enzymes catalyze the metabolism of different functional groups on the clomipramine (CYP2D6 catalyzes aromatic hydroxylation, while CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 drives demethylation of the amino group). The metabolism type we specifically probed was mono-demethylation of the amino group on clomipramine.

The results agree with the hypothesized inhibitory effect of propranolol. The concentration of propranolol at 50% inhibition of demethylation under these conditions was found to be 1.33 mM. (IC50 = 1.33 mM). Concentration of unmetabolized clomipramine increased by 9.3% with increasing concentration of propranolol. Propranolol is a substrate for enzymes CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, competing with clomipramine in binding the active sites of the enzymes, thus decreasing the concentration of desmethylated clomipramine while increasing the concentration of clomipramine. This experiment could guide medical practitioners when prescribing antidepressants and hypertensive drugs together.