title: Protective effect of ethyl pyruvate on msP rat leukocytes damaged by alcohol intake.
abstract: Alcohol consumption for long periods negatively influences physiological functions of many cells, and leads to organ damage. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by ethanol metabolism cause adverse effects that might be alleviated by simultaneous treatment with various antioxidants. Here, the ability of ethyl pyruvate (EP) to reduce ethanol-induced oxidative stress was evaluated. Chemiluminescence studies show that EP has a higher capacity than pyruvate to scavenge hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions. In order to evaluate whether EP can exert a protective effect against ethanol, rats were offered 10% ethanol in drinking burettes, containing or not different concentrations of EP (0.3%, 1% and 3%). The comet assay was employed to quantify the alcohol-induced DNA damage in rat lymphocytes. This test is a promising tool for the estimation of DNA damage at the single cell level. A significant protective effect of EP was observed in rat groups treated with this antioxidant, compared with those drinking only ethanol. Since EP has been shown to decrease the expression of numerous pro-inflammatory mediators, the monocyte respiratory burst was evaluated. The activation of monocyte NADPH oxidase by phorbol esters (PMA) showed that superoxide anion production was higher in the ethanol group than in the control group. The presence of EP considerably reduced superoxide anion production. In conclusion, hypotheses on possible mechanisms of action of EP on rat white blood cells are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of M. C. A. Biology, University of Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fedeli
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falcioni
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Olek
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cifani
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polidori
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gabbianelli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D020536:Enzyme Activators; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D011773:Pyruvates; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C046522:ethyl pyruvate; D000431:Ethanol; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate