Paradoxical effects of statins on endothelial and cancer cells: the impact of concentrations.

In addition to their lipid-lowering functions, statins elicit additional pleiotropic effects on apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, senescence, and oxidative stress. Many of these effects have been reported in cancerous and noncancerous cells like endothelial cells (ECs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and human umbilical vein cells (HUVCs). Not surprisingly, statins' effects appear to vary largely depending on the cell context, especially as pertains to modulation of cell cycle, senescence, and apoptotic processes. Perhaps the most critical reason for this discordance is the bias in selecting the applied doses in various cells. While lower (nanomolar) concentrations of statins impose anti-senescence, and antiapoptotic effects, higher concentrations (micromolar) appear to precipitate opposite effects. Indeed, most studies performed in cancer cells utilized high concentrations, where statin-induced cytotoxic and cytostatic effects were noted. Some studies report that even at low concentrations, statins induce senescence or cytostatic impacts but not cytotoxic effects. However, the literature appears to be relatively consistent that in cancer cells, statins, in both low or higher concentrations, induce apoptosis or cell cycle arrest, anti-proliferative effects, and cause senescence. However, statins' effects on ECs depend on the concentrations; at micromolar concentrations statins cause cell senescence and apoptosis, while at nonomolar concentrations statins act reversely.

Carvacrol loaded beta cyclodextrin-alginate-chitosan based nanoflowers attenuates renal toxicity induced by malathion and parathion: A comparative toxicity.

Most of approximately 1.8 billion people involved in agriculture protect their food products using pesticides especially insecticides which may remain in foods as pesticide residues. Among insecticides organophosphates such as malathion have been widely used around the world and others such as parathion has been restricted because of their toxicity. Carvacrol (CAR) is the main component of Satureja khuzestanica. Since chemical composition of foods can alter toxicity of pesticides, in this work, the effect of coadministration of CAR and organophosphates on renal function has been studied and compared with the effect of coadministration of carvacrol loaded beta cyclodextrin-alginate-chitosan (BAC) based nanoflowers. Serum levels of urea and creatinine and histological examination were analyzed after 10 days of administration of chemicals. Malathion and parathion significantly increased urea and creatinine and induced renal inflammation. However, coadministration of CAR or BAC-CAR modified urea and creatinine and improved renal inflammation. BAC-CAR modified serum levels of urea more efficient than CAR (P < 0.05). It is concluded that BAC could be considered as a carrier for drugs used to treat renal disorders. Carvacrol can be used in the formulation of organophosphate pesticides, which may control pests more efficiently than conventional organophosphate pesticides.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the mechanisms of citalopram-induced hepatotoxicity.

Even though citalopram is commonly used in psychiatry, there are several reports on its toxic effects. So, the current study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms of cytotoxic effects of in vitro and in vivo citalopram treatment on liver and the following cytolethal events. For in vitro experiments, freshly isolated rat hepatocytes were exposed to citalopram along with/without various agents. To do in vivo studies liver function enzyme assays and histological examination were performed. In the in vitro experiments, citalopram (500 µM) exposure demonstrated cell death, a marked elevation in ROS formation, mitochondrial potential collapse, lysosomal membrane leakiness, glutathione (GSH) depletion and lipid peroxidation. In vivo biochemistry panel assays for liver enzymes function (AST, ALT and GGTP) and histological examination confirmed citalopram (20 mg/kg)-induced damage. citalopram-induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers were significantly prevented by antioxidants, ROS scavengers, MPT pore sealing agents, endocytosis inhibitors, ATP generators and CYP inhibitors. Either enzyme induction or GSH depletion were concomitant with augmented citalopram-induced damage both in vivo and in vitro which were considerably ameliorated with antioxidants and CYP inhibitors. In conclusion, it is suggested that citalopram hepatotoxicity might be a result of oxidative hazard leading to mitochondrial/lysosomal toxic connection and disorders in biochemical markers which were supported by histomorphological studies.

Glutathione mediated reductive activation and mitochondrial dysfunction play key roles in lithium induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in liver.

Lithium preparations are commonly used drug in treating mental disorders and bipolar diseases, but metal's cytotoxic mechanisms have not yet been completely understood. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic mechanisms of lithium in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Lithium cytotoxicity were associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release into the hepatocyte cytosol. All of the mentioned lithium-induced cytotoxicity markers were significantly (P < 0.05) prevented by ROS scavengers, antioxidants, mitochondrial permeability transition pore sealing agents and adenosine triphosphate generators. Hepatocyte glutathione (GSH) was also rapidly oxidized and GSH-depleted hepatocytes were more resistant to lithium-induced oxidative stress markers. This suggests that lithium is activated by GSH. Our results also showed that CYP2E1 is involved in lithium oxidative stress mechanism. Lithium cytotoxicity was also associated with mitochondrial injuries initiated by increased ROS formation resulted from metal-CYP2E1 destructive interaction or metal-induced disruption of mitochondrial electron transfer chain. Methyl donors such as betaine, methionine, or folic acid prevented lithium cytotoxicity, and this suggests that this metal is detoxified by phase II metabolic methylation. In conclusion lithium-induced cytotoxicity could be attributed to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

A new approach on valproic acid induced hepatotoxicity: involvement of lysosomal membrane leakiness and cellular proteolysis.

Although valproic acid (VPA) a proven anticonvulsant agent thought to have relatively few side-effects VPA has been referred as the third most common xenobiotic suspected of causing death due to liver injury. In this study the cellular pathways involved in VPA hepatotoxicity were investigated in isolated rat hepatocytes. Accelerated cytotoxicity mechanism screening (ACMS) techniques using fluorescent probes including, ortho-phthalaldehyde, rhodamine 123 and acridine orange were applied for measurement of ROS formation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential and Lysosomal membrane damage, respectively. Our results showed that cytotoxic action of VPA is mediated by lysosomal membrane leakiness along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and decline of mitochondrial membrane potential before cell lysis ensued. Incubation of hepatocytes with VPA also caused rapid hepatocyte glutathione (GSH) depletion which is another marker of cellular oxidative stress. Most of the VPA induced GSH depletion could be attributed to the expulsion of GSSG. Our results also showed that CYP2EI is involved in the mechanism of VPA cytotoxicity. We finally concluded that VPA hepatotoxicity is a result of metabolic activation by CYP2E1 and ROS formation, leading to lysosomal labialization, mitochondrial/lysosomal toxic cross-talk and finally general cellular proteolysis in the rat hepatocytes.