Characterization of "Ribavirin transportsome" in the small intestine

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The purpose of the present study was to identify a role of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) in ribavirin absorption. We showed that PNP expressed in human small intestine exclusively metabolized ribavirin to inactive nucleobase. We also showed that the level of PNP activity/expression was one of the determinant factors for the level of ribavirin absorption. Therefore, it can be concluded that PNP plays an important role in determining ribavirin plasma concentration through its metabolizing ability in human small intestine.