Metabolism is not a Major Contributor to the Toxicity of Piperaquine, a Long-acting Antimalarial Agent in Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy

Background: Hepatocellular damage has been reported for the antimalarial piperaquine (PQ) in the clinic after cumulative doses. Objectives: The role of metabolism in PQ toxicity was evaluated, and the mechanism mediating PQ hepatotoxicity was investigated. Methods: The toxicity of PQ and its major metabolite (PQ N-oxide; M1) in mice was evaluated in terms of serum biochemical parameters. The role of metabolism in PQ toxicity was investigated in mice pretreated with an inhibitor of CYP450 (ABT) and/or FMO enzyme (MMI). The dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of PQ and M1 were studied in mice. Histopathological examination was performed to reveal the mechanism mediating PQ hepatotoxicity. Results: Serum biochemical levels (ALT and BUN) increased significantly (P < 0.05) in mice after three-day oral doses of PQ (> 200 mg/kg/day), indicating hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of PQ at a high dose. Weaker toxicity was observed for M1. Pretreatment with ABT and/or MMI did not increase PQ toxicity. PQ and M1 showed linear pharmacokinetics in mice after a single oral dose, and multiple oral doses led to their cumulative exposures. Histopathological examination showed that a high dose of PQ (> 200 mg/kg/day for three days) could induce hepatocyte apoptosis. The mRNA levels of targets in NF-KB and p53 pathways could be up-regulated by 2-30-fold in mice by PQ or M1. Conclusions: PQ metabolism led to detoxification of PQ, but there was a low possibility of altered toxicity induced by metabolism inhibition. The hepatotoxicity of PQ and its N-oxidation metabolite was partly mediated by NF-KB inflammatory pathway and p53 apoptosis pathway.

Automated summary

Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were observed in mice after exposure to high doses of piperaquine (PQ), while its metabolite M1 showed weaker toxicity. The inflammatory NF-KB pathway and apoptosis pathway mediated the hepatotoxicity of PQ and its N-oxidation metabolite.