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Zhou 2019 Int J Mol Sci

From Bioblast
Publications in the MiPMap
Zhou X, Luethi D, Sanvee GM, Bouitbir J, Liechti ME, Krähenbühl S (2019) Molecular toxicological mechanisms of synthetic cathinones on C2C12 myoblasts. Int J Mol Sci 20:E1561.

» PMID: 30925718 Open Access

Zhou X, Luethi D, Sanvee GM, Bouitbir J, Liechti ME, Kraehenbuehl S (2019) Int J Mol Sci

Abstract: Synthetic cathinones are popular psychoactive substances that may cause skeletal muscle damage. In addition to indirect sympathomimetic myotoxicity, these substances could be directly myotoxic. Since studies in myocytes are currently lacking, the aim of the present study was to investigate potential toxicological effects by synthetic cathinones on C2C12 myoblasts (mouse skeletal muscle cell line). We exposed C2C12 myoblasts to 3-methylmethcathinone, 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone), 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP), and naphthylpyrovalerone (naphyrone) for 1 or 24 h before cell membrane integrity, ATP content, mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and mitochondrial superoxide production was measured. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was included as a reference compound. All investigated synthetic cathinones, as well as MDMA, impaired cell membrane integrity, depleted ATP levels, and increased mitochondrial superoxide concentrations in a concentration-dependent manner in the range of 50⁻2000 μM. The two pyrovalerone derivatives α-PVP and naphyrone, and MDMA, additionally impaired basal and maximal cellular respiration, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. Alpha-PVP inhibited complex I, naphyrone complex II, and MDMA complex I and III, whereas complex IV was not affected. We conclude that, in addition to sympathetic nervous system effects and strenuous muscle exercise, direct effects of some cathinones on skeletal muscle mitochondria may contribute to myotoxicity in susceptible synthetic cathinone drugs users. Keywords: Electron transport chain, Mitochondria, Skeletal muscle toxicity, Synthetic cathinones Bioblast editor: Plangger M O2k-Network Lab: CH Basel Kraehenbuehl S


Labels: MiParea: Respiration, Pharmacology;toxicology 


Organism: Mouse  Tissue;cell: Skeletal muscle  Preparation: Permeabilized cells 


Coupling state: OXPHOS  Pathway:HRR: Oxygraph-2k 

Labels, 2019-04