Thiols and polyamines in the cytoprotective effect of taurine on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity.
The mechanism by which taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) protects hepatocytes injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is not fully understood. In a previous study, we reported that cellular polyamines play an important role in this mechanism. The relationship between cellular glutathione (GSH), protein-SH levels, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), with respect to the effect of polyamine on the cytoprotective ability of taurine in CCl4-induced toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes, was examined. CCl4 induced a LDH release and decreased cellular thiols and polyamine levels. Treating with taurine reversed these depletions. The effect of CCl4 was also reversed by the addition of exogenous polyamines. Pretreating with alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, which is a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis and therefore used to deplete cellular polyamine, prevented the protective effect of taurine. Adding diethyl maleate, a cellular glutathione-depleting agent, reduced the effect of exogenous polyamines. The role of polyamine in the cytoprotective effect of taurine in CCl4-induced toxicity may therefore be by preventing, among others, GSH and protein-SH depletions.
Wu
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Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.
Kennedy
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Yano
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Otani
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Matsui-Yuasa
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D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008298:Maleates / Q000494:pharmacology; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008298:Maleates; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D011073:Polyamines; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013654:Taurine; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; C014476:diethyl maleate; D000518:Eflornithine