D. J. Jollow

Bromobenzene-induced liver necrosis. Protective role of glutathione and evidence for 3,4-bromobenzene oxide as the hepatotoxic metabolite.

This laboratory has previously postulated that bromobenzene-induced hepatic necrosis results from the formation of a reactive metabolite that arylates vital cellular macromolecules. Accordingly, the severity of liver necrosis has been compared with the formation of metabolites of bromobenzene and with covalent binding of metabolites in vivo and in vitro after various pretreatment regimens that alter hepatotoxicity. These data provide direct kinetic evidence that 3,4-bromobenzene oxide is the reactive hepatotoxic metabolite. The studies also demonstrate that the hepatotoxic metabolite is preferentially conjugated (detoxified) with glutathione, thereby depleting glutathione from the liver. Liver necrosis and arylation of cellular macromolecules occur only when glutathione is no longer available. Thus, a dose threshold exists for bromobenzene-induced hepatic necrosis.

Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Necrosis

The relationship between the metabolic disposition of acetaminophen and the susceptibility of hamsters, mice and rats to acetaminophen-induced liver necrosis has been examined. The fraction of low dos

Acetaminophen‐induced hepatic injury: Protective role of glutathione in man and rationale for therapy

Recent studies of acetaminophen‐induced liver damage in animals indicate that acetaminophen is converted in the liver to a chemically reactive arylating agent that normally is detoxified by conjugation with glutathione. When the dose of acetaminophen is large enough to deplete hepatic glutathione, however, there is extensive arylation of hepatic macromolecules and cell death. This paper presents evidence that administration of glutathione‐like nucleophiles, such as cysteamine, protects mice from arylation of hepatic macromolecules, hepatic necrosis, and death caused by the reactive acetaminophen metabolite. Additional studies indicate that glutathione may serve a similar protective function in man as in other animals. Thus, logical treatment of patients overdosed with acetaminophen might be based on cysteamine or other nucleophiles.

Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Necrosis V. Correlation of Hepatic Necrosis, Covalent Binding and Glutathione Depletion in Hamsters

We previously postulated that acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis in mice results from the formation of a reactive metabolite that arylates vital cellular macro-molecules. While studying species di

Species differences in hepatic glutathione depletion, covalent binding and hepatic necrosis after acetaminophen

Abstract Acetaminophen, a widely prescribed analgesic that causes fulminant hepatic necrosis in overdosed humans, produced varying degrees of hepatotoxixity in mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. The severity of hepatic injury paralleled the rate of activation of acetaminophen by hepatic microsomal enzymes to a potent arylating agent. The severity of hepatic damage in various species also correlated directly with the rate of hepatic glutathione depletion after acetaminophen. These findings support the hypothesis that the electrophilic arylating agent formed from acetaminophen in vibo is preferentially detoxified by conjugation with glutathione and that arylation of hepatic macromolecules occurs only when glutathione availability is exceeded. Since N-hydroxylation of another N-acetylarylamine (2-acetylaminofluorene) occurs to a much greater extent in the species that are susceptible to acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis, the data also are consistent with the hypothesis that the toxic metabolite of acetaminophen results from N-hydroxylation.

Biochemical changes after hepatic injury from toxic doses of acetaminophen or furosemide.

The effects of hepatotoxic doses of acetaminophen and furosemide on the function and composition of hepatic endoplasmic reticulum were compared from 3 to 24 h after administration. Acetaminophen caused a significant decrease in microsomal protein concentration as early as 3 h after its administration, but furosemide did not affect the microsomal protein concentration until 24 h after the dose. Both acetaminophen and furosemide decreased the concentrations of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 in microsomes, and the activity of microsomal ethylmorphine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase. Glucose-6-phosphatase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase were not significantly affected by acetaminophen or furosemide administration, and neither diene conjugation nor hepatic triglycerides were increased. Incorporation of 3H-L-leucine into liver proteins was decreased by 50% after the administration of either acetaminophen or furosemide.