Sato T, Kobune M, Murase K, Kado Y, Okamoto T, Tanaka S, Kikuchi S, Nagashima H, Kawano Y, Takada K, Iyama S, Miyanishi K, Sato Y, Takimoto R, Kato J. Iron chelator deferasirox rescued mice from Fas-induced fulminant hepatitis.
Hepatol Res 2011;
41:660-7. [PMID:
21711425 DOI:
10.1111/j.1872-034x.2011.00821.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
AIM
Fulminant hepatitis is a disease characterized by development of hepatic failure due to severe liver cell injury. Orthotopic liver transplantation is the therapy proven to improve patient survival; however, less burdensome and safer strategies are required. In a previous study, we showed that iron was intimately involved in hepatocyte apoptosis by demonstrating that spontaneous development of fulminant hepatitis in Long-Evans cinnamon rats was prevented by feeding an iron-deficient diet. Recently, a new iron chelator, deferasirox, has become widely available for the treatment of transfusional hemosiderosis. Deferasirox demonstrated good efficacy and improved compliance due to convenient, once-daily p.o. administration. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of deferasirox as a therapeutic drug against fulminant hepatitis.
METHODS
Human primary hepatocytes undergoing Fas-stimulated apoptosis were challenged with deferoxamine (DFO) in vitro. In further in vivo experiments, we tested DFO in a mice model of fulminant hepatitis induced by Fas-stimulation.
RESULTS
The apoptosis-inducing activity of anti-Fas antibody on human primary hepatocytes was inhibited by the chelation of iron with DFO. DFO suppressed the Fas-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activation of caspase-3, both of which were also suppressed by antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cystein. In the in vivo experiments, deferasirox effectively reduced hepatic iron concentrations and rescued mice from Fas-induced fulminant hepatitis.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicated that the iron chelation exerted a hepatoprotective effect by scavenging ROS upstream of caspase-3 and that iron chelation with deferasirox is a potential treatment for patients with fulminant hepatitis.
Collapse