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Vaz I, Carvalho T, Valente MJ, Castro A, Araújo AM, Bastos ML, Carvalho M. The interplay between autophagy and apoptosis mediates toxicity triggered by synthetic cathinones in human kidney cells. Toxicol Lett 2020; 331:42-52. [PMID: 32464236 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones abuse remains a serious public health problem. Kidney injury has been reported in intoxications associated with synthetic cathinones, but the molecular mechanisms involved have not been explored yet. In this study, the potential in vitro nephrotoxic effects of four commonly abused cathinone derivatives, namely pentedrone, 3,4-dimethylmethcatinone (3,4-DMMC), methylone and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), were assessed in the human kidney HK-2 cell line. All four derivatives elicited cell death in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, in the following order of potency: 3,4-DMMC >> MDPV > methylone ≈ pentedrone. 3,4-DMMC and methylone were selected to further elucidate the mechanisms behind synthetic cathinones-induced cell death. Both drugs elicited apoptotic cell death and prompted the formation of acidic vesicular organelles and autophagosomes in HK-2 cells. Moreover, the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine significantly potentiated cell death, indicating that autophagy may serve as a cell survival mechanism that protects renal cells against synthetic cathinones toxicity. Both drugs triggered a rise in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species formation, which was completely prevented by antioxidant treatment with N‑acetyl‑L‑cysteine or ascorbic acid. Importantly, these antioxidant agents significantly aggravated renal cell death induced by cathinone derivatives, most likely due to their autophagy-blocking properties. Taken together, our results support an intricate control of cell survival/death modulated by oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in synthetic cathinones-induced renal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Vaz
- UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa, Praça Nove de Abril, 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal
| | - T Carvalho
- UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa, Praça Nove de Abril, 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal
| | - M J Valente
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
| | - A Castro
- UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa, Praça Nove de Abril, 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal
| | - A M Araújo
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - M L Bastos
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - M Carvalho
- UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa, Praça Nove de Abril, 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
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Valente MJ, Carvalho F, Bastos MDL, de Pinho PG, Carvalho M. Contribution of oxidative metabolism to cocaine-induced liver and kidney damage. Curr Med Chem 2013; 19:5601-6. [PMID: 22856659 DOI: 10.2174/092986712803988938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2012] [Revised: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine is a potent psychoactive illicit substance and its abuse represents a major health burden worldwide. The pharmacodynamics and toxicity of cocaine have been extensively documented, and are generally associated to its affinity towards neurotransmitters transporters and several receptors. However, drug-related formation of reactive compounds, as is the case of pro-oxidant reactive species, and interaction at molecular level is still an understudied matter. The involvement of oxidative stress (OS) in cocaine-induced toxicity has been reported in both human and animal models, in several organs and systems, including heart, liver, kidney, and central nervous system (CNS). Cytochrome P450 (CYP450)-mediated cocaine metabolism yields the reactive pro-oxidant compound norcocaine (NCOC) and further oxidative metabolites. Special emphasis should be given to the stable radical norcocaine nitroxide (NCOC-NO·), which plays a key role in cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity, either by entering a futile redox cycle with an N-oxidative metabolite, or by being further oxidized to a highly reactive ion. In fact, cocaine-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequent OS has been postulated based on the reactivity of cocaine N-oxidative metabolites. Depletion of cellular antioxidant defenses and impairment of mitochondrial respiration have also been considered important causes of ROS production, and subsequent cell death mediated by cocaine. The present review provides a thorough description of the current knowledge on cocaine oxidative metabolism and its role on drug-induced liver and kidney damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Valente
- REQUIMTE, Laboratorio de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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