title: Mitochondrial damage, cytotoxicity and apoptosis in iron-potentiated alcoholic liver fibrosis: amelioration by taurine.
abstract: Taurine effectively prevents ischemia-induced apoptosis in the cardiomyocytes and hypothalamic nuclei. The present study explores the influence of taurine on mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress and apoptosis in experimental liver fibrosis. Male albino Wistar rats were divided into six groups and maintained for a period of 60 days as follows: Group I, control; Group II, ethanol treatment [6 g/(kg/day)]; Group III, fibrosis induced by ethanol and iron (0.5% w/w); Group IV, ethanol + iron + taurine (2% w/v); Group V, ethanol + taurine treatment and Group VI, control + taurine treatment. Hepatocytes isolated from ethanol plus iron-treated rats showed decreased cell viability and redox ratio, increased reactive oxygen species formation, lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies. Liver mitochondria showed increased susceptibility to swell, diminished activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes and antioxidants. Taurine administration to fibrotic rats restored mitochondrial function, reduced reactive oxygen species formation, prevented DNA damage, and apoptosis. Thus taurine might contribute to the amelioration of the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakshmi Devi
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Anuradha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054354:Iron Carbonyl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000187:drug effects; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013654:Taurine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D054354:Iron Carbonyl Compounds; D013654:Taurine; D000431:Ethanol