Acute oxidant damage promoted on cancer cells by amitriptyline in comparison with some common chemotherapeutic drugs

Oxidative therapy is a relatively new anticancer strategy based on the induction of high levels of oxidative stress, achieved by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or by depleting the protective antioxidant machinery of tumor cells. We focused our investigations on the antitumoral potential of amitriptyline in three human tumor cell lines: H460 (lung cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), and HepG2 (hepatoma); comparing the cytotoxic effect of amitriptyline with three commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs: camptothecin, doxorubicin, and methotrexate. We evaluated apoptosis, ROS production, mitochondrial mass and activity, and antioxidant defenses of tumor cells. Our results show that amitriptyline produces the highest cellular damage, inducing high levels of ROS followed by irreversible serious mitochondrial damage. Interestingly, an unexpected decrease in antioxidant machinery was observed only for amitriptyline. In conclusion, based on the capacity of generating ROS and inhibiting antioxidants in tumor cells, amitriptyline emerges as a promising new drug to be tested for anticancer therapy

Amitriptyline induces coenzyme Q deficiency and oxidative damage in mouse lung and liver

6 páginas, 4 figuras.Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant commonly prescribed for the treatment of several neuropathic and inflammatory illnesses. We have already reported that amitriptyline has cytotoxic effect in human cell cultures, increasing oxidative stress, and decreasing growth rate and mitochondrial activity. Coenzyme Q (CoQ), a component of the respiratory chain and a potent antioxidant, has been proposed as a mitochondrial dysfunction marker. In the present work we evaluated lipid peroxidation, a consequence of oxidative stress, and CoQ level in liver, lung, kidney, brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and serum of mice treated with amitriptyline for two weeks. Lipid peroxidation was increased in a dose-dependent manner in all tissues analyzed. CoQ levels were increased in brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and serum, and strongly decreased in liver and lung. The relation between amitriptyline, CoQ, and oxidative stress is discussed.This work has been partially supported by IV Plan Propio de Investigación (University of Seville, ref. 2010/00000453).Peer reviewe