Toxicity of uricosuric diuretics in rat hepatocyte culture

Hepatocytes isolated from preneoplastic rat livers are resistant to ethacrynic acid cytotoxicity

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics, such as several cytostatic drugs, through conjugation with glutathione (GSH). Pi class GST (GST P) liver expression is associated with preneoplastic and neoplastic development and contributes with the drug-resistance phenotype. Ethacrynic acid (EA) is an inhibitor of rat and human GSTs. In addition, causes lipid peroxidation in isolated rat hepatocytes. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the role of the GST/GSH system in isolated hepatocytes from preneoplastic rat livers (IP) in the presence of EA and determine the cytotoxicity of the drug. Our results showed a resistance to the toxic effects of EA since viability and cellular integrity values were significantly higher than control. Initial levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in IP hepatocytes were significantly higher than control and the presence of EA did not change TBARS levels. A diminution in intracellular total GSH was observed by treating with EA isolated hepatocytes from both groups. However, the initial total GSH levels were higher in IP hepatocytes than in control. Immunoblotting analysis showed the presence of GST P in IP animals only. Although alpha and mu class isoenzymes levels were decreased in IP hepatocytes, total GST activity was 1.5-fold higher than in control. In addition, multidrug-resistance protein 2 (Mrp2) showed fivefold decreased levels in IP hepatocytes. In conclusion, increased total GSH, decreased Mrp2 levels and the presence of GST P could be critical factors involved in the resistance of IP hepatocytes to the toxicity of EA.

Toxicity of ethacrynic acid in isolated rat hepatocytes

Ethacrynic acid, a loop diuretic drug, caused lipid peroxidation in isolated rat hepatocytes. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation showed a good correlation with the leakage of glutamic-oxaloacetic acid transaminase (GOT) from the hepatocytes. The addition of antioxidants such as N, N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD) and promethazine to the isolated rat hepatocyte suspension containing ethacrynic acid prevented the lipid peroxidation and decreased the GOT leakage to some extent. SKF-525A inhibited the oxidative metabolism of ethacrynic acid and decreased the TBARS formation, suggesting that the lipid peroxidation was caused by the oxidative metabolism. The intracellular reduced glutathione markedly decreased in the hepatocyte suspension containing ethacrynic acid and the hepatocellular protein sulfhydryls were decreased, which was negatively correlated with the GOT leakage. Thus the ethacrynic acid-induced hepatotoxicity was found to be related to the lipid peroxidation and the decrease of cellular protein sulfhydryls.