Alipour M, Buonocore C, Omri A, Szabo M, Pucaj K, Suntres ZE. Therapeutic effect of liposomal-N-acetylcysteine against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.
J Drug Target 2013;
21:466-73. [PMID:
23600745 DOI:
10.3109/1061186x.2013.765443]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Acetaminophen (APAP) is an antipyretic analgesic drug that when taken in overdose causes depletion of glutathione (GSH) and hepatotoxicity. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the antidote of choice for the treatment of APAP toxicity; however, due to its short-half-life repeated dosing of NAC is required.
PURPOSE
To determine whether a NAC-loaded liposomal formulation (Lipo-NAC) is more effective than the conventional NAC in protecting against acute APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged with an intragastric dose of APAP (850 mg/kg b.wt.); 4 h later, animals were administered saline, NAC, Lipo-NAC or empty liposomes and sacrificed 24 h post-APAP treatment.
RESULTS
APAP administration resulted in hepatic injury as evidenced by increases in plasma bilirubin, alanine (AST) and aspartate (ALT) aminotransferase levels and tissue levels of lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase as well as decreases in hepatic levels of reduced GSH, GSH peroxidase and GSH reductase. Treatment of animals with Lipo-NAC was significantly more effective than free NAC in reducing APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Histological evaluation showed that APAP caused periacinar hepatocellular apoptosis and/or necrosis of hepatocytes around the terminal hepatic venules which was reduced by NAC treatment, the degree of reduction being greater for Lipo-NAC.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that administration of Lipo-NAC ameliorated the APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
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