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The mechanism of hepatotoxic effects of sodium nitrite on isolated rat hepatocytes

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Abstract

Nitrite and nitrite are considered hazardous, and there are legal limits to their concentration in food and drinking water. The typical diet in most countries contains nitrites, nitrites, and nitrosamines. It is used as a food preservative, especially in cured meats. In this research, we investigated the cytotoxic mechanisms of sodium nitrite in isolated hepatocyte. For this purpose, we evaluated the several oxidative stress markers. The results showed that the cytotoxicity of sodium nitrite on hepatocytes was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and lipid peroxidation which were inhibited by antioxidants and ROS scavengers, mitochondrial permeability transition, pore sealing agents and endocytosis inhibitors. Sodium nitrite cytotoxicity was also associated with mitochondrial injury, lysosomal membrane rupture and release of digestive proteases which were prevented by antioxidants, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore sealing agents and lysosomotropic agents. In conclusion, sodium nitrite at concentration of 5 mM could have cytotoxic effects on isolated rat hepatocytes by above mentioned mechanisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran

    Amir Kiani & Parisa Doroudian

  2. Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran

    Bahareh Sadat Yousefsani

  3. Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment (RCHSE), Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Enayatollah Seydi

  4. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Enayatollah Seydi

  5. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Jalal Pourahmad

Authors
  1. Amir Kiani
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  2. Bahareh Sadat Yousefsani
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  3. Parisa Doroudian
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  4. Enayatollah Seydi
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  5. Jalal Pourahmad
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Correspondence to Enayatollah Seydi or Jalal Pourahmad.

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Kiani, A., Yousefsani, B.S., Doroudian, P. et al. The mechanism of hepatotoxic effects of sodium nitrite on isolated rat hepatocytes. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 9, 244–250 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-017-0327-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-017-0327-z

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