In vitro metabolism of a new cardioprotective agent, KR-32570, in human liver microsomes

KR-32570 (5-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl)furan-2-ylcarbonyl)guanidine) is a new reversible Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger inhibitor for preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study was performed to identify the metabolic pathway of KR-32570 in human liver microsomes. Human liver microsomal incubation of KR-32570 in the presence of NADPH and UDPGA resulted in the formation of six metabolites, M1-M6. M1 was identified as O-desmethyl-KR-32570, on the basis of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) analysis with the synthesized authentic standard. M2 and M3 were suggested to be hydroxy-KR-32570 and hydroxy-O-desmethyl-KR-32570, respectively. M1, M2, and M3 were further metabolized to their glucuronide conjugates, M4, M5, and M6, respectively. In addition, the specific P450 isoforms responsible for KR-32570 oxidation to two major metabolites, O-desmethyl-KR-32570 and hydroxy-KR-32570, were identified using a combination of correlation analysis, chemical inhibition in human liver microsomes and metabolism by expressed recombinant P450 isoforms. The inhibitory potency of KR-32570 on clinically major P450s was investigated in human liver microsomes. The results show that CYP3A4 contributes to the oxidation of KR-32570 to hydroxy-KR-32570, and CYP1A2 play the predominant role in O-demethylation of KR-32570. KR-32570 was found to inhibit moderately the metabolism of CYP2C8 substrates.