Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations

For more than ten years, new synthetic cathinones (SCs) mimicking the effects of controlled cocaine-like stimulants have flooded the illegal drug market, causing numerous intoxications and fatalities. There are often no data on the pharmacokinetics of these substances when they first emerge onto the...

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Main Authors: Jeremy Carlier, Xingxing Diao, Raffaele Giorgetti, Francesco P. Busardò, Marilyn A. Huestis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/1/230
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author Jeremy Carlier
Xingxing Diao
Raffaele Giorgetti
Francesco P. Busardò
Marilyn A. Huestis
author_facet Jeremy Carlier
Xingxing Diao
Raffaele Giorgetti
Francesco P. Busardò
Marilyn A. Huestis
author_sort Jeremy Carlier
collection DOAJ
description For more than ten years, new synthetic cathinones (SCs) mimicking the effects of controlled cocaine-like stimulants have flooded the illegal drug market, causing numerous intoxications and fatalities. There are often no data on the pharmacokinetics of these substances when they first emerge onto the market. However, the detection of SC metabolites is often critical in order to prove consumption in clinical and forensic settings. In this research, the metabolite profile of two pyrrolidinyl SCs, α-pyrrolidinohexaphenone (α-PHP) and 4′′-fluoro-α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4F-α-PVP), were characterized to identify optimal intake markers. Experiments were conducted using pooled human hepatocyte incubations followed by liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry and data-mining software. We suggest α-PHP dihydroxy-pyrrolidinyl, α-PHP hexanol, α-PHP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl-hexanol, and α-PHP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl as markers of α-PHP use, and 4F-α-PVP dihydroxy-pyrrolidinyl, 4F-α-PVP hexanol, 4F-α-PVP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl-hexanol, and 4F-α-PVP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl as markers of 4F-α-PVP use. These results represent the first data available on 4F-α-PVP metabolism. The metabolic fate of α-PHP was previously studied using human liver microsomes and urine samples from α-PHP users. We identified an additional major metabolite (α-PHP dihydroxy-pyrrolidinyl) that might be crucial for documenting exposure to α-PHP. Further experiments with suitable analytical standards, which are yet to be synthesized, and authentic specimens should be conducted to confirm these results.
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spelling doaj.art-b0e73b3a9f9e48c590940e0fb015d4262023-11-21T02:52:08ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-12-0122123010.3390/ijms22010230Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte IncubationsJeremy Carlier0Xingxing Diao1Raffaele Giorgetti2Francesco P. Busardò3Marilyn A. Huestis4Chemistry & Drug Metabolism Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USAChemistry & Drug Metabolism Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USADepartment of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, ItalyChemistry & Drug Metabolism Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USAFor more than ten years, new synthetic cathinones (SCs) mimicking the effects of controlled cocaine-like stimulants have flooded the illegal drug market, causing numerous intoxications and fatalities. There are often no data on the pharmacokinetics of these substances when they first emerge onto the market. However, the detection of SC metabolites is often critical in order to prove consumption in clinical and forensic settings. In this research, the metabolite profile of two pyrrolidinyl SCs, α-pyrrolidinohexaphenone (α-PHP) and 4′′-fluoro-α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4F-α-PVP), were characterized to identify optimal intake markers. Experiments were conducted using pooled human hepatocyte incubations followed by liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry and data-mining software. We suggest α-PHP dihydroxy-pyrrolidinyl, α-PHP hexanol, α-PHP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl-hexanol, and α-PHP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl as markers of α-PHP use, and 4F-α-PVP dihydroxy-pyrrolidinyl, 4F-α-PVP hexanol, 4F-α-PVP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl-hexanol, and 4F-α-PVP 2′-keto-pyrrolidinyl as markers of 4F-α-PVP use. These results represent the first data available on 4F-α-PVP metabolism. The metabolic fate of α-PHP was previously studied using human liver microsomes and urine samples from α-PHP users. We identified an additional major metabolite (α-PHP dihydroxy-pyrrolidinyl) that might be crucial for documenting exposure to α-PHP. Further experiments with suitable analytical standards, which are yet to be synthesized, and authentic specimens should be conducted to confirm these results.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/1/230α-PHPPV74F-α-PVPnovel psychoactive substancesynthetic cathinonebath salt
spellingShingle Jeremy Carlier
Xingxing Diao
Raffaele Giorgetti
Francesco P. Busardò
Marilyn A. Huestis
Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
α-PHP
PV7
4F-α-PVP
novel psychoactive substance
synthetic cathinone
bath salt
title Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations
title_full Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations
title_fullStr Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations
title_full_unstemmed Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations
title_short Pyrrolidinyl Synthetic Cathinones α-PHP and 4F-α-PVP Metabolite Profiling Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations
title_sort pyrrolidinyl synthetic cathinones α php and 4f α pvp metabolite profiling using human hepatocyte incubations
topic α-PHP
PV7
4F-α-PVP
novel psychoactive substance
synthetic cathinone
bath salt
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/1/230
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