Biomaterial Database

Effects of N-acetylcysteine and dithiothreitol on glutathione and protein thiol replenishment during acetaminophen-induced toxicity in isolated mouse hepatocytes. 1994

E Rafeiro, and S G Barr, and J J Harrison, and W J Racz

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Isolated mouse hepatocytes were incubated with 1.0 mM acetaminophen (AA) for 1.5 h to initiate glutathione (GSH) and protein thiol (PSH) depletion and cell injury. Cells were subsequently washed to remove non-covalently bound AA and resuspended in medium containing N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 2.0 mM) or dithiothreitol (DTT, 1.5 mM). The effects of these agents on the replenishment of GSH and total PSH content were related to the development of cytotoxicity. When cells exposed to AA were resuspended in medium containing NAC or DTT, both agents replenished GSH and total PSH content to levels observed in untreated cells but only DTT was able to attenuate cytotoxicity. Addition of the GSH synthesis inhibitor, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 1.0 mM, 1.5 h), to cells in incubation medium containing AA, enhanced GSH and total PSH depletion and potentiated cytotoxicity. Resuspension of these cells in medium containing NAC did not alter the potentiating effects of BSO; GSH and PSH levels were not replenished and no cytoprotective effects were observed. However, when cells exposed to AA and BSO were resuspended in medium containing DTT, PSH content was replenished but GSH levels were not restored. In addition, DTT was able to delay the development of cytotoxicity. It appears that DTT, unlike NAC, has a GSH-independent mechanism of PSH replenishment. These observations suggest that while replenishment of GSH and total PSH content does not result in cytoprotection, the regeneration of critical PSH by DTT may play an important role in the maintenance of proper cell structure and/or function.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007770	L-Lactate Dehydrogenase	A tetrameric enzyme that, along with the coenzyme NAD+, catalyzes the interconversion of LACTATE and PYRUVATE. In vertebrates, genes for three different subunits (LDH-A, LDH-B and LDH-C) exist.	Lactate Dehydrogenase,Dehydrogenase, L-Lactate,Dehydrogenase, Lactate,L Lactate Dehydrogenase
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008297	Male		Males
D008717	Methionine Sulfoximine		Sulfoximine, Methionine
D004229	Dithiothreitol	A reagent commonly used in biochemical studies as a protective agent to prevent the oxidation of SH (thiol) groups and for reducing disulphides to dithiols.	Cleland Reagent,Cleland's Reagent,Sputolysin,Clelands Reagent,Reagent, Cleland,Reagent, Cleland's
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine
D000082	Acetaminophen	Analgesic antipyretic derivative of acetanilide. It has weak anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a common analgesic, but may cause liver, blood cell, and kidney damage.	Acetamidophenol,Hydroxyacetanilide,Paracetamol,APAP,Acamol,Acephen,Acetaco,Acetominophen,Algotropyl,Anacin-3,Datril,N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetanilide,N-Acetyl-p-aminophenol,Panadol,Tylenol,p-Acetamidophenol,p-Hydroxyacetanilide,Anacin 3,Anacin3
D000111	Acetylcysteine	The N-acetyl derivative of CYSTEINE. It is used as a mucolytic agent to reduce the viscosity of mucous secretions. It has also been shown to have antiviral effects in patients with HIV due to inhibition of viral stimulation by reactive oxygen intermediates.	Mercapturic Acid,Acemuc,Acetabs,Acetylcystein AL,Acetylcystein Atid,Acetylcystein Heumann,Acetylcystein Trom,Acetylcysteine Hydrochloride,Acetylcysteine Sodium,Acetylcysteine Zinc,Acetylcysteine, (D)-Isomer,Acetylcysteine, (DL)-Isomer,Acetylcysteine, Monoammonium Salt,Acetylcysteine, Monosodium Salt,Acetylin,Acetyst,Acétylcystéine GNR,Airbron,Alveolex,Azubronchin,Bisolvon NAC,Bromuc,Broncho-Fips,Broncholysin,Broncoclar,Codotussyl,Cystamucil,Dampo Mucopect,Eurespiran,Exomuc,Fabrol,Fluimucil,Fluprowit,Frekatuss,Genac,Hoestil,Ilube,Jenacystein,Jenapharm,Lantamed,Larylin NAC,Lindocetyl,M-Pectil,Muciteran,Muco Sanigen,Mucomyst,Mucosil,Mucosol,Mucosolvin,N-Acetyl-L-cysteine,N-Acetylcysteine,NAC AL,NAC Zambon,Optipect Hustengetränk,Siccoral,Siran,Solmucol,acebraus,durabronchal,mentopin Acetylcystein,Acetylcystein, mentopin,Acid, Mercapturic,Broncho Fips,BronchoFips,Hustengetränk, Optipect,Hydrochloride, Acetylcysteine,M Pectil,MPectil,Monoammonium Salt Acetylcysteine,Monosodium Salt Acetylcysteine,Mucopect, Dampo,N Acetyl L cysteine,N Acetylcysteine,NAC, Bisolvon,Sanigen, Muco,Sodium, Acetylcysteine,Zambon, NAC,Zinc, Acetylcysteine
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013438	Sulfhydryl Compounds	Compounds containing the -SH radical.	Mercaptan,Mercapto Compounds,Sulfhydryl Compound,Thiol,Thiols,Mercaptans,Compound, Sulfhydryl,Compounds, Mercapto,Compounds, Sulfhydryl