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Published on: November 27, 2016
Mesalazine pharmacokinetics and NAT2 phenotype.
Hendrik Lück1, Martina Kinzig, Alexander Jetter
1Department of Pharmacology, University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
N-acetyltransferase type 2 (NAT2) does not significantly impact mesalazine metabolism in humans. This study found no correlation between NAT2 activity and mesalazine pharmacokinetics, suggesting NAT2 plays a minor role in its in vivo processing.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Drug Metabolism
- Genetics
Background:
- Mesalazine is extensively metabolized via N-acetylation.
- The role of N-acetyltransferase type 2 (NAT2) in this process in vivo is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo role of NAT2 in mesalazine metabolism.
- To determine if NAT2 phenotype influences mesalazine pharmacokinetics.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted in healthy Caucasians involving NAT2 phenotyping using caffeine.
- Mesalazine and N-acetylmesalazine pharmacokinetics were analyzed after single and multiple doses of mesalazine.
- Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for quantification.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in mesalazine or N-acetylmesalazine pharmacokinetics were observed between slow and rapid NAT2 acetylators.
- No significant correlation was found between NAT2 activity and mesalazine pharmacokinetic parameters.
- Mesalazine metabolism showed signs of saturation at steady state.
Conclusions:
- NAT2 does not appear to play a major role in the in vivo human metabolism of mesalazine.
- The findings suggest other metabolic pathways or enzymes are primarily responsible for mesalazine acetylation.
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