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Contribution of acetaminophen-cysteine to acetaminophen nephrotoxicity II. Possible involvement of the {gamma}-glutamyl cycle

Journal Article · · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [4]
  1. Toxicology Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268 (United States)
  2. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 (United States)
  3. Toxicology Program, Department of Pathobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268 (United States)
  4. Toxicology Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268 (United States) and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy-Worcester, Worcester, MA 01608 (United States)

Acetaminophen (APAP) nephrotoxicity has been observed both in humans and research animals. Our recent investigations have focused on the possible involvement of glutathione-derived APAP metabolites in APAP nephrotoxicity and have demonstrated that administration of acetaminophen-cysteine (APAP-CYS) potentiated APAP-induced renal injury with no effects on APAP-induced liver injury. Additionally, APAP-CYS treatment alone resulted in a dose-responsive renal GSH depletion. This APAP-CYS-induced renal GSH depletion could interfere with intrarenal detoxification of APAP or its toxic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI) and may be the mechanism responsible for the potentiation of APAP nephrotoxicity. Renal-specific GSH depletion has been demonstrated in mice and rats following administration of amino acid {gamma}-glutamyl acceptor substrates for {gamma}-glutamyl transpeptidase ({gamma}-GT). The present study sought to determine if APAP-CYS-induced renal glutathione depletion is the result of disruption of the {gamma}-glutamyl cycle through interaction with {gamma}-GT. The results confirmed that APAP-CYS-induced renal GSH depletion was antagonized by the {gamma}-glutamyl transpeptidase ({gamma}-GT) inhibitor acivicin. In vitro analysis demonstrated that APAP-CYS is a {gamma}-glutamyl acceptor for both murine and bovine renal {gamma}-GT. Analysis of urine from mice pretreated with acivicin and then treated with APAP, APAP-CYS, or acetaminophen-glutathione identified a {gamma}-glutamyl-cysteinyl-acetaminophen metabolite. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that APAP-CYS contributes to APAP nephrotoxicity by depletion of renal GSH stores through interaction with the {gamma}-glutamyl cycle.

OSTI ID:
20634835
Journal Information:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 202; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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