N-acetylcysteine attenuates hexavalent chromium-induced hypersensitivity through inhibition of cell death, ROS-related signaling and cytokine expression.

Abstract

Chromium hypersensitivity (chromium-induced allergic contact dermatitis) is an important issue in occupational skin disease. Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) can activate the Akt, Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and induce cell death, via the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recently, cell death stimuli have been proposed to regulate the release of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1). However, the exact effects of ROS on the signaling molecules and cytotoxicity involved in Cr(VI)-induced hypersensitivity have not yet been fully demonstrated. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could increase glutathione levels in the skin and act as an antioxidant. In this study, we investigated the effects of NAC on attenuating the Cr(VI)-triggered ROS signaling in both normal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT cells) and a guinea pig (GP) model. The results showed the induction of apoptosis, autophagy and ROS were observed after different concentrations of Cr(VI) treatment. HaCaT cells pretreated with NAC exhibited a decrease in apoptosis and autophagy, which could affect cell viability. In addition, Cr (VI) activated the Akt, NF-κB and MAPK pathways thereby increasing IL-1α and TNF-α production. However, all of these stimulation phenomena could be inhibited by NAC in both of in vitro and in vivo studies. These novel findings indicate that NAC may prevent the development of chromium hypersensitivity by inhibiting of ROS-induced cell death and cytokine expression.

• Authors: Yu-Hsuan Lee, Shih-Bin Su, Chien-Cheng Huang, Hamm-Ming Sheu, Jui-Chen Tsai, Chia-Ho Lin, Ying-Jan Wang, Bour-Jr Wang
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 9 Issue 9 Pg. e108317 ( 2014) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25248126 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Interleukin-1alpha
• NF-kappa B
• RNA, Messenger
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Chromium
• chromium hexavalent ion
• Oncogene Protein v-akt
• Acetylcysteine

Topics

• Acetylcysteine (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Autophagy (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Chromium (toxicity)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (drug therapy, etiology, pathology, prevention & control)
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Guinea Pigs
• Interleukin-1alpha (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Keratinocytes (drug effects, metabolism)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects)
• NF-kappa B (physiology)
• Oncogene Protein v-akt (physiology)
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (biosynthesis, genetics)