4 research outputs found
Metformin Is a Substrate and Inhibitor of the Human Thiamine Transporter, THTR-2 (SLC19A3)
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Metformin Is a Substrate and Inhibitor of the Human Thiamine Transporter, THTR-2 (SLC19A3).
The biguanide metformin is widely used as first-line therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Predominately a cation at physiological pH's, metformin is transported by membrane transporters, which play major roles in its absorption and disposition. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that organic cation transporter 1, OCT1, the major hepatic uptake transporter for metformin, was also the primary hepatic uptake transporter for thiamine, vitamin B1. In this study, we tested the reverse, i.e., that metformin is a substrate of thiamine transporters (THTR-1, SLC19A2, and THTR-2, SLC19A3). Our study demonstrated that human THTR-2 (hTHTR-2), SLC19A3, which is highly expressed in the small intestine, but not hTHTR-1, transports metformin (Km = 1.15 ± 0.2 mM) and other cationic compounds (MPP(+) and famotidine). The uptake mechanism for hTHTR-2 was pH and electrochemical gradient sensitive. Furthermore, metformin as well as other drugs including phenformin, chloroquine, verapamil, famotidine, and amprolium inhibited hTHTR-2 mediated uptake of both thiamine and metformin. Species differences in the substrate specificity of THTR-2 between human and mouse orthologues were observed. Taken together, our data suggest that hTHTR-2 may play a role in the intestinal absorption and tissue distribution of metformin and other organic cations and that the transporter may be a target for drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions
Metformin Is a Substrate and Inhibitor of the Human Thiamine Transporter, THTR‑2 (SLC19A3)
The
biguanide metformin is widely used as first-line therapy for
the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Predominately a cation at physiological
pH’s, metformin is transported by membrane transporters, which
play major roles in its absorption and disposition. Recently, our
laboratory demonstrated that organic cation transporter 1, OCT1, the
major hepatic uptake transporter for metformin, was also the primary
hepatic uptake transporter for thiamine, vitamin B1. In this study,
we tested the reverse, i.e., that metformin is a substrate of thiamine
transporters (THTR-1, SLC19A2, and THTR-2, SLC19A3). Our study demonstrated
that human THTR-2 (hTHTR-2), SLC19A3, which is highly expressed in
the small intestine, but not hTHTR-1, transports metformin (<i>K</i><sub>m</sub> = 1.15 ± 0.2 mM) and other cationic compounds
(MPP<sup>+</sup> and famotidine). The uptake mechanism for hTHTR-2
was pH and electrochemical gradient sensitive. Furthermore, metformin
as well as other drugs including phenformin, chloroquine, verapamil,
famotidine, and amprolium inhibited hTHTR-2 mediated uptake of both
thiamine and metformin. Species differences in the substrate specificity
of THTR-2 between human and mouse orthologues were observed. Taken
together, our data suggest that hTHTR-2 may play a role in the intestinal
absorption and tissue distribution of metformin and other organic
cations and that the transporter may be a target for drug–drug
and drug–nutrient interactions