Mechanistic study of BNP7787-mediated cisplatin nephroprotection: modulation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

• Published in: Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology 2010-04, Vol.65 (5), p.941-951
• Main Authors: Hausheer, Frederick H, Shanmugarajah, Dakshine, Leverett, Betsy D, Chen, Xinghai, Huang, Quili, Kochat, Harry, Petluru, Pavankumar N, Parker, Aulma R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - toxicity; Cancer Research; Cisplatin - toxicity; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - antagonists & inhibitors; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - metabolism; Humans; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - metabolism; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mesna - analogs & derivatives; Mesna - pharmacology; Oncology; Original Article; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Protective Agents - pharmacology; Swine
• ISSN: 0344-5704; 1432-0843
• DOI: 10.1007/s00280-009-1101-y

Purpose The mechanisms for cisplatin-induced renal cell injury have been the focus of intense investigation for many years with a view to provide a more effective and convenient form of nephroprotection. BNP7787 (disodium 2,2′-dithio-bis ethane sulfonate; dimesna, Tavocept™), is a water-soluble disulfide investigational new drug that is undergoing clinical development for the prevention and mitigation of clinically important chemotherapy-induced toxicities associated with platinum-type chemotherapeutic agents. We hypothesized that part of BNP7787's mechanism of action (MOA) pertaining to the potential prevention of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity involves the inhibition of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity, mediated by BNP7787-derived mesna-disulfide heteroconjugates that contain a terminal gamma-glutamate moiety [e.g., mesna-glutathione (MSSGlutathione) and mesna-cysteinyl-glutamate (MSSCE)]. Methods Inhibition studies were conducted on human and porcine GGT to determine the effect of mesna-disulfide heteroconjugates on the enzyme's activity in vitro. These studies utilized a fluorimetric assay that monitored the hydrolysis of l-gamma-glutamyl-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (GG-AFC) to AFC. Results Mesna-disulfide heteroconjugates that contained gamma-glutamyl moieties were potent inhibitors of human and porcine GGT. An in situ-generated mesna-cisplatin conjugate was not a substrate for GGT. Conclusions The GGT xenobiotic metabolism pathway is postulated to be a major toxification pathway for cisplatin nephrotoxicity, and BNP7787 may play a novel and critical therapeutic role in the modulation of GGT activity. We further postulate that there are two general mechanisms for BNP7787-mediated nephroprotection against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity involving this pathway. First, the active BNP7787 pharmacophore, mesna, produces an inactive mesna-cisplatin conjugate that is not a substrate for the GGT toxification pathway (GGT xenobiotic metabolism pathway) and, second, BNP7787-derived mesna-disulfide heteroconjugates may serve as selective, potent inhibitors of GGT, possibly resulting in nephroprotection by a novel means.