Poisoning the heart with anticancer drugs: is metabolic bioactivation or aging promotion the link to the cardiotoxicity of anticancer drugs New early putative biomarkers of cardiac damage for an earlier therapeutic approach

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Structure-cytotoxicity relationship profile of 13 synthetic cathinones in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells

Publication . Soares, Jorge; Costa, Vera Marisa; Gaspar, Helena; Santos, Susana; Bastos, Maria de Lourdes; Carvalho, Félix; Capela, João Paulo

Synthetic cathinones also known as β-keto amphetamines are a new group of recreational designer drugs. We aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of thirteen cathinones lacking the methylenedioxy ring and establish a putative structure-toxicity profile using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, as well as to compare their toxicity to that of amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH). Cytotoxicity assays [mitochondrial 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction and lysosomal neutral red (NR) uptake] performed after a 24-h or a 48-h exposure revealed for all tested drugs a concentration-dependent toxicity. The rank order regarding the concentration that promoted 50 % of toxicity, at 24 h exposure, by the MTT assay was: 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC)>METH > mephedrone ≈ α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone > AMPH ≈ methedrone > pentedrone > buphedrone ≈ flephedrone>α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone > methcathinone ≈ N-ethylcathinone>α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone>N,N-dimethylcathinone ≈ amfepramone. Apoptotic cell death signs were seen for all studied cathinones. 3,4-DMMC, methcathinone and pentedrone triggered autophagy activation, as well as increased reactive oxygen species production, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) totally prevented that rise. Importantly, NAC was also able to prevent the cytotoxicity promoted by 6 tested drugs, ruling for an involvement of oxidative stress in the toxic events observed. The increased lipophilic chain on the alpha carbon, the presence and the high steric volume occupied by the substituents on the aromatic ring, and the substitution of the pyrrolidine ring by its secondary amine analogue have proved to be key points for the cytotoxicity profile of these cathinones. The structure-toxicity relationship established herein may enlighten future human relevant mechanistic studies, and future clinical approaches on intoxications.

2019Journal article

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Adverse outcome pathways induced by 3,4‑dimethylmethcathinone and 4‑methylmethcathinone in differentiated human SH‑SY5Y neuronal cells

Publication . Soares, Jorge; Costa, Vera Marisa; Gaspar, Helena; Santos, Susana; Bastos, Maria de Lourdes

Cathinones (β-keto amphetamines), widely abused in recreational settings, have been shown similar or even worse toxicological profile than classical amphetamines. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of two β-keto amphetamines [3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC) and 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC)], was evaluated in differentiated dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells in comparison to methamphetamine (METH). MTT reduction and NR uptake assays revealed that both cathinones and METH induced cytotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with trolox (antioxidant) partially prevented the cytotoxicity induced by all tested drugs, while N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC; antioxidant and glutathione precursor) and GBR 12909 dopamine transporter inhibitor) partially prevented the cytotoxicity induced by cathinones, as evaluated by the MTT reduction assay. Unlike METH, cathinones induced oxidative stress evidenced by the increase on intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and also by the decrease of intracellular glutathione levels. Trolox prevented, partially but significantly, the ROS generation elicited by cathinones, while NAC inhibited it completely. All tested drugs induced mitochondrial dysfunction, since they led to mitochondrial membrane depolarization and to intracellular ATP depletion. Activation of caspase-3, indicative of apoptosis, was seen both for cathinones and METH, and confirmed by annexin V and propidium iodide positive staining. Autophagy was also activated by all drugs tested. Pre-incubation with bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of the vacuolar H+- ATPase, only protected against the cytotoxicity induced by METH, which indicates dissimilar toxicological pathways for the tested drugs. In conclusion, the mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress observed for the tested cathinones may be key factors for their neurotoxicity, but different outcome pathways seem to be involved in the adverse effects, when compared to METH.

2020Journal article

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