Understanding the Emerging Role of the Spleen in the Disposition of Novel Precision Medicines

The spleen is a key target organ for immunotherapy as it contains a high concentration of lymphocytes and macrophages. Drug interaction with these two cell types may have implications both in terms of therapeutic or toxic activity and in terms of drug disposition. Little is known about the possible involvement of macrophages and lymphocytes in drug metabolism and there may be implications for how drugs are distributed within the spleen and whether they can reach their molecular target. The expression of major drug metabolising enzymes and drug transporters in the spleen will be determined and their effect on drug disposition will be determined using mass spectrometry and kinetic analysis. The project proposal involves a multidisciplinary approach ranging from cellular sciences to analytical chemistry to kinetic modelling and will provide an excellent training potential for a researcher with an interest in applied pharmacology and the pharmaceutical industry.