title: A comparison of hepatocyte cytotoxic mechanisms for chromate and arsenite.
abstract: In the following, we have compared the cytotoxic mechanisms of the chromate CrO(4)(2-) and arsenite AsO(2)(-). Chromate (Cr (VI)) cytotoxicity was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, lipid peroxidation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which were prevented by catalase, antioxidants and ROS scavengers. Hepatocyte glutathione was also rapidly oxidized. Chromate reduction was inhibited in glutathione depleted hepatocytes, and glutathione depleted hepatocytes were also much more resistant to chromate induced cytotoxicity, ROS formation and lipid peroxidation. This suggests that chromate is reductively activated by glutathione. Chromate cytotoxicity also involved lysosomal injury and protease activation, which were prevented by lysosomotropic agents, endocytosis inhibitors, protease inhibitors and ROS scavengers. On the other hand, arsenite cytotoxicity was associated with much less oxidative stress, and lysosomal damage did not occur. However, arsenite cytotoxicity was also associated with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which in contrast to chromate cytotoxicity was inhibited by the ATP generators fructose, xylitol and glutamine. Arsenite induced cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential decline and also ROS formation were significantly increased by inactivating hepatocyte methionine synthase or hepatocyte methyl transferase. However, methyl donors such as betaine, methionine or folic acid prevented arsenite but not chromate cytotoxicity, and this suggests that arsenite is detoxified by reductive methylation. In conclusion, chromate induced cytotoxicity could be attributed to oxidative stress and lysosomal damage, whereas arsenite induced cytotoxicity could be attributed to mitochondrial toxicity and ATP depletion.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, PO Box 14155-6153, Iran. j.pourahmadjaktaji@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pourahmad
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabiei
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jokar
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002840:Chromates / Q000633:toxicity*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D005470:Fluorometry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020112:Rhodamine 123 / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018053:Arsenites; D002840:Chromates; D005452:Fluoresceins; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D020112:Rhodamine 123; C037631:2',7'-dichlorofluorescein; D005978:Glutathione; C015001:arsenite