title: Amiodarone triggers induction of apoptosis in cutaneous leishmaniasis agents.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that is an important problem of public health worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effects of amiodarone (AMD) on Leishmania tropica (MHOM/AF/88/KK27) and L. major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) promastigotes and to observe the programmed cell death features. The colorimetric MTT assay was used to find L. tropica and L. major viability and the obtained results were expressed as 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50). Annexin-V FLUOS staining was performed to study the cell death properties of AMD using fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis. Qualitative analysis of the total genomic DNA fragmentation was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, to observe changes in cell morphology, promastigotes were examined using light microscopy. The IC50 was achieved at 55 and 81 μM for L. tropica and L. major after 48 h of incubation, respectively. In both strains, AMD induced death with features of apoptosis, including externalization of phosphatidylserine, DNA laddering, and cell shrinkage. Our findings indicate that AMD may induce apoptosis on the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology , Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz , Ahvaz , Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: b Department of Parasitology , Urmia University of Medical Science , Urmia , Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khademvatan
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology , Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz , Ahvaz , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Razi Jalali
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology , Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz , Ahvaz , Iran.
authors.forename: Sepide
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pourbaram
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D000638:Amiodarone
keywords: Amiodarone; Apoptosis; Leishmania major; Leishmania tropica