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3-Aminotriazole protects against cobalt (II) chloride-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting reactive oxygen species formation and preventing mitochondrial damage in HepG2 cells

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Abstract

Cobalt is an essential metal that is required for the generation of vitamin B12. However, exposure to excess cobalt for a prolonged period may adversely affect the human body, causing hepatotoxicity, pulmonary fibrosis, and neurotoxicity. 3-Aminotriazole (3-AT) is a catalase inhibitor that is often used to examine the cellular role of catalase. In the present study, we showed that 3-AT treatment significantly reduced cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2)-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells by suppressing the expression and activation of apoptotic markers, caspase-3 and poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP). Mechanistically, 3-AT treatment attenuated CoCl2-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of RO S-responsive genes. Furthermore, the CoCl2-induced mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) shift and mitochondrial damage were attenuated by 3-AT. Taken together, these findings suggest that 3-AT alleviates CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity by reducing ROS generation and protecting against mitochondrial damage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Institute of Integrated Technology, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea

    Joon No Lee

  2. Department of Microbiology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea

    Jane Park, Seul-Gi Kim, Min Soo Kim, Jae-Young Lim & Seong-Kyu Choe

Authors
  1. Joon No Lee
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  2. Jane Park
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  3. Seul-Gi Kim
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  4. Min Soo Kim
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  5. Jae-Young Lim
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  6. Seong-Kyu Choe
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Correspondence to Seong-Kyu Choe.

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Lee, J.N., Park, J., Kim, SG. et al. 3-Aminotriazole protects against cobalt (II) chloride-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting reactive oxygen species formation and preventing mitochondrial damage in HepG2 cells. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. 13, 125–132 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-017-0013-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-017-0013-x

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