Short communication: Cigarette smoke interacts with amiodarone toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Amiodarone (AMD) is an antiarrhythmic drug prescribed to treat ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. However, it causes an unpredictable toxicity (idiosyncratic), which may depend on co-exposure to pollutants. AMD toxicity involves calcium homeostasis alteration and oxidative stress, which are also affected by cigarette smoke (CS). We investigated the interaction of CS-condensate (CSC), phenanthrene, and benzo(a)pyrene with AMD toxicity on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. AMD toxicity was reduced by CSC or phenanthrene. Benzo(a)pyrene mildly decreased AMD toxicity on the wild-type strain, but not on the catalase-CTT1 mutant. This latter and other mutants in glucose receptor-GPR1 or calcium transporter-PMR1 showed lower antagonistic effect to AMD by CSC or phenanthrene relative to the wild type, suggesting roles of oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis, and hexose-sensing in this interaction.

Dose-dependent interaction of two heavy metals with amiodarone toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Amiodarone (AMD) is an antiarrhythmic drug that induces idiosyncratic toxicity. Environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, could interact with its toxicity by affecting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Other levels of interaction could exist in yeast, such as oxidative stress and the general stress response. In this study, we investigated the interaction of mercury chloride (HgCl₂) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) with AMD toxicity on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interaction type - synergistic, additive, or antagonistic - was determined by median drug effect analysis using "CompuSyn". HgCl₂ potentiated AMD toxicity at high doses (≥ 71.4 μm, which yielded more than 60% inhibition). CdCl₂ acted similarly at high doses (≥ 57.9 μm). An antagonistic effect appeared at lower doses with both heavy metals (≤ 49.4 μm for HgCl₂ and AMD; ≤ 18.9 μm for CdCl₂ and AMD). The threshold concentrations (HgCl₂ or CdCl₂ combined with AMD) that switched the interaction from antagonistic to additive, and then to synergistic, were decreased in the yeast strain mutant in catalase (CTT1), suggesting an important role for this enzyme. Moreover, mutation of the nutrient sensing receptor gene GPR1 caused the synergistic interaction of CdCl₂, but not HgCl₂, with AMD to occur at the lowest tested concentrations (1.2 μm). The reverse was obtained with the mutant strain in calcium-manganese transporter gene PMR1, where the synergistic interaction of HgCl₂ with AMD occurred at concentrations (20.7 μm) lower than that of the wild type (71.4 μm). These results demonstrated a dose-dependent interaction between the two heavy metals with AMD toxicity, and the involvement of oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis, and nutrient sensing in the observed interaction.

Impact of inflammation on chlorpromazine-induced cytotoxicity and cholestatic features in HepaRG cells

Several factors are thought to be implicated in the occurrence of idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions. The present work aimed to question as to whether inflammation is a determinant factor in hepatic lesions induced by chlorpromazine (CPZ) using the human HepaRG cell line. An inflammation state was induced by a 24-hour exposure to proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β; then the cells were simultaneously treated with CPZ and/or cytokine for 24 hours or daily for 5 days. The inflammatory response was assessed by induction of C-reactive protein and IL-8 transcripts and proteins as well as inhibition of CPZ metabolism and down-regulation of cytochrome 3A4 (CYP3A4) and CYP1A2 transcripts, two major cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes involved in its metabolism. Most effects of cotreatments with cytokines and CPZ were amplified or only observed after five daily treatments; they mainly included increased cytotoxicity and overexpression of oxidative stress-related genes, decreased Na(+)-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide mRNA levels and activity, a key transporter involved in bile acids uptake, and deregulation of several other transporters. However, CPZ-induced inhibition of taurocholic acid efflux and pericanalicular F-actin distribution were not affected. In addition, a time-dependent induction of phospholipidosis was noticed in CPZ-treated cells, without obvious influence of the inflammatory stress. In summary, our results show that an inflammatory state induced by proinflammatory cytokines increased cytotoxicity and enhanced some cholestatic features induced by the idiosyncratic drug CPZ in HepaRG cells. These changes, together with inhibition of P450 activities, could have important consequences if extrapolated to the in vivo situation.

Different dose-dependent mechanisms are involved in early cyclosporine a-induced cholestatic effects in hepaRG cells

Mechanisms involved in drug-induced cholestasis in humans remain poorly understood. Although cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) share similar immunosuppressive properties, only CsA is known to cause dose-dependent cholestasis. Here, we have investigated the mechanisms implicated in early cholestatic effects of CsA using the differentiated human HepaRG cell line. Inhibition of efflux and uptake of taurocholate was evidenced as early as 15 min and 1 h respectively after addition of 10μM CsA; it peaked at around 2 h and was reversible. These early effects were associated with generation of oxidative stress and deregulation of cPKC pathway. At higher CsA concentrations (≥50μM) alterations of efflux and uptake activities were enhanced and became irreversible, pericanalicular F-actin microfilaments were disorganized and bile canaliculi were constricted. These changes were associated with induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress that preceded generation of oxidative stress. Concentration-dependent changes were observed on total bile acid disposition, which were characterized by an increase and a decrease in culture medium and cells, respectively, after a 24-h treatment with CsA. Accordingly, genes encoding hepatobiliary transporters and bile acid synthesis enzymes were differently deregulated depending on CsA concentration. By contrast, FK506 induced limited effects only at 25-50μM and did not alter bile canaliculi. Our data demonstrate involvement of different concentration-dependent mechanisms in CsA-induced cholestasis and point out a critical role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the occurrence of the major cholestatic features.