H2O2: a Ca2+ or Mg2+‐sensing function in statin passive diffusion

In a previous paper Guillaume's group demonstrated that magnesium (Mg²⁺ concentration range 0.00–2.60 mm ) increased the passive diffusion of statins and thus played a role in their potential toxicity. In order to confirm an increase in this passive diffusion by divalent salt cations, the role of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) on the statin–immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) association was studied. It was demonstrated that calcium supplementation (Ca²⁺ concentration range 0.00–3.25 mm ) increases the statin passive diffusion. In addition, it was shown that the Ca²⁺ effect on the statin–IAM association is higher than that of Mg²⁺. These results show that Ca²⁺ enhances the passive diffusion of drugs into biological membranes and thus their potential toxicity. Also, addition of H₂O₂ to the medium showed a hyperbolic response for the statin passive diffusion and this effect was enhanced for the highest Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ concentrations in the medium. H₂O₂ is likely to interact with the polar head groups of the IAM through dipole–dipole interactions. The conformational changes in H₂O₂–IAM result in a higher degree of exposure of hydrophobic areas, thus explaining why the binding of pravastatin, which showed the lowest logP value, was less affected by H₂O₂. This result shows the significant contribution of H₂O₂ and thus the oxidative stress on the statin passive diffusion. Much of the sensitivity derives from the action of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺, in turn supported the idea that H₂O₂ may serve a Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ sensing function in statin passive diffusion Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.