Impact of Hyperlipidemia on Plasma Protein Binding and Hepatic Drug Transporter and Metabolic Enzyme Regulation in a Rat Model of Gestational Diabetes

It is currently unknown whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a prevalent obstetrical complication, compounds the changes in drug disposition that occur naturally in pregnancy. Hyperlipidemia occurs in GDM. Using a rat model of GDM, we determined whether excess lipids compete with drugs for plasma protein binding. Because lipids activate nuclear receptors that regulate drug transporters and metabolic enzymes, we used proteome analysis to determine whether hyperlipidemia indirectly leads to the dysregulation of these proteins in the liver. GDM was induced on gestational day 6 (GD6) via streptozotocin injection. Controls received either vehicle alone or streptozotocin with subsequent insulin treatment. Liver and plasma were collected on GD20. Glyburide and saquinavir protein binding was determined by ultrafiltration, and an established solvent method was used for plasma delipidation. Proteomics analysis was performed by using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation methodology with membrane-enriched hepatic protein samples. Relative to controls, GDM rat plasma contained more cholesterol and triglycerides. Plasma protein binding of glyburide and saquinavir was decreased in GDM. Delipidation normalized protein binding in GDM plasma. Proteins linked to lipid metabolism were strongly affected in the GDM proteomics data set, with prohyperlipidemic and antihyperlipidemic changes observed, and formed networks that implicated several nuclear receptors. Up-regulation of drug transporters and metabolic enzymes was observed (e. g., multidrug resistance 1/2, CYP2A1, CYP2B9, and CYP2D3). In this study, GDM-induced hyperlipidemia decreased protein binding and was associated with drug transporter and metabolic enzyme up-regulation in the liver. Both of these findings could change drug disposition in affected pregnancies, compounding changes associated with pregnancy itself.