OATP1B1 in drug-drug interactions between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin

The study was designed to explore the drug-drug interactions mechanisms mediated by OATP1B1 between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin. First, the changes of rosuvastatin pharma­cokinetics were investigated in presence of Danshensu in rats. Then, the primary rat hepatocytes model was established to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin by hepatocytes. Finally, HEK293T cells with overexpression of OATP1B1*1a and OATP1B1*5 were established using a lentiviral delivery system to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin pharmacokinetic parameters of C_max, AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞ were increased about 123%, 194% and 195%, by Danshensu in rats, while the CL_z/F value was decreased by 60%. Uptake of rosuvastatin in the primary rat hepatocytes was decreased by 3.13%, 41.15% and 74.62%, respectively in the presence of 20, 40 and 80 μmol·L^-1 Danshensu. The IC₅₀ parameters was (53.04 ± 2.43) μmol·L^-1. The inhibitory effect of Danshensu on OATP1B1 mediated transport of rosuvas­tatin was related to the OATP1B1 gene type. In OATP1B1*5-HEK293T mutant cells, transport of rosuvastatin were reduced by (39.11 ± 4.94) % and (63.61 ± 3.94) %, respectively, by Danshensu at 1 and 10 μmol·L^-1. While transport of rosuvastatin was reduced by (8.22 ± 2.40) % and (11.56 ± 3.04) % and in OATP1B1*1a cells, respectively. Danshensu significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in rats, which was related to competitive inhibition of transport by OATP1B1. Danshensu exhibited a significant activity in the inhibition of rosuvastatin transport by OATP1B1*5-HEK293T, but not by OATP1B1*1a, suggesting a dependence on OATP1B1 sequence.