Methadone but not Morphine Inhibits Lubiprostone-Stimulated Cl(−) Currents in T84 Intestinal Cells and Recombinant Human ClC-2, but not CFTR Cl(−) Currents

In clinical trials, methadone, but not morphine, appeared to prevent beneficial effects of lubiprostone, a ClC-2 Cl(−) channel activator, on opioid-induced constipation. Effects of methadone and morphine on lubiprostone-stimulated Cl(−) currents were measured by short circuit current (Isc) across T84 cells. Whole cell patch clamp of human ClC-2 (hClC-2) stably expressed in HEK293 cells and in a high expression cell line (HEK293EBNA) as well as human CFTR (hCFTR) stably expressed in HEK293 cells was used to study methadone and morphine effects on recombinant hClC-2 and hCFTR Cl(−) currents. Methadone but not morphine inhibited lubiprostone-stimulated Isc in T84 cells with half-maximal inhibition at 100 nM. Naloxone did not affect lubiprostone stimulation or methadone inhibition of Isc. Lubiprostone-stimulated Cl(−) currents in hClC-2/HEK293 cells, but not forskolin/IBMX-stimulated Cl(−) currents in hCFTR/HEK293 cells, were inhibited by methadone, but not morphine. HEK293EBNA cells expressing hClC-2 showed time-dependent, voltage-activated, CdCl(2)-inhibited Cl(−) currents in the absence (control) and the presence of lubiprostone. Methadone, but not morphine, inhibited control and lubiprostone-stimulated hClC-2 Cl(−) currents with half-maximal inhibition at 100 and 200–230 nM, respectively. Forskolin/IBMX-stimulated hClC-2 Cl(−) currents were also inhibited by methadone. Myristoylated protein kinase inhibitor (a specific PKA inhibitor) inhibited forskolin/IBMX- but not lubiprostone-stimulated hClC-2 Cl(−) currents. Methadone caused greater inhibition of lubiprostone-stimulated currents added before patching (66.1 %) compared with after patching (28.7 %). Methadone caused inhibition of lubiprostone-stimulated Cl(−) currents in T84 cells and control; lubiprostone- and forskolin/IBMX-stimulated recombinant hClC-2 Cl(−) currents may be the basis for reduced efficacy of lubiprostone in methadone-treated patients.