Emtricitabine (Synonyms: BW 1592, BW 524W91, FTC)

Cell experiment:

EA.hy926 cells were plated in a 12-, 24- or 96-well plates and grown in DMEM media supplemented with 3% FCS. Endothelial cells from PARP+/+and PARP-/- mice were isolated and cultured. Cell viability was determined by the reduction of yellow MTT into a purple formazan product by mitochondrial dehydrogenases of metabolically active cells. Following the treatment period, the experimental medium was removed and 100 μL MTT (1 mg/mL) added. After 1 h incubation, the MTT solution was carefully removed and the purple crystals were solubilized in 100 μL of DMSO. The DMSO was transferred to an ELISA plate and absorbance measured at 550 nm with a 620 nm[3].

Animal experiment:

Mice: Emtricitabine (free base) is suspended in 0.5% aqueous methylcellulose and given by gavage, with the daily dose divided into two equal installments administered approximately 6 h apart. The dose volume is 5 mL/kg/dose (10 mL/kg/day). In 1- and 6-month oral toxicity studies in mice, the maximum tolerated dose of emtricitabine is >3000 mg/kg/day. However, dose-range-finding studies are performed in pregnant CD-1 mice and in New Zealand White rabbits at top doses of 1000 mg/kg/day[2]. Rabbits: Mature artificially inseminated rabbits are given emtricitabine on gestational day 7 through 19. On gestational day 19, blood samples for toxicokinetics are taken from five satellite does in each group at 30–60 min prior to dosing, and at 1, 3, 7, and 12 h after the first daily-dose (prior to the second daily-dose). On gestational day 20, the satellite does are sacrificed at 1 h after the final dose, and maternal blood and fetal umbilical blood samples are collected for toxicokinetics[2].

References:

[1]. Saag MS, et al. Emtricitabine, a new antiretroviral agent with activity against HIV and hepatitis B virus. Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Jan 1;42(1):126-31.
[2]. Xu P, et al. Combined Medication of Antiretroviral Drugs Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, Emtricitabine, and Raltegravir Reduces Neural Progenitor Cell Proliferation In Vivo and In Vitro. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2017 Dec;12(4):682-692.
[3]. Szczech GM, Wang LH, Walsh JP, Reproductive toxicology profile of emtricitabine in mice and rabbits. Reprod Toxicol. 2003 Jan-Feb;17(1):95-108.
[4]. Faltz M, et al. Effect of the Anti-retroviral Drugs Efavirenz, Tenofovir and Emtricitabine on Endothelial Cell Function: Role of PARP. Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2017 Jan 3. [Epub ahead of print]