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Screening Assay for Oxidative Stress in a Feline Astrocyte Cell Line, G355-5
Published on: July 13, 2011
Antioxidant effect of cysteamine in brain cortex of young rats
Adriana Kessler1, Micheli Biasibetti, Denizar Alberto da Silva Melo
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600, Porto Alegre, RS CEP 90.035-003, Brazil.
Abstract:
Cysteamine is a cystine-depleting drug used in the treatment of cystinosis, a metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of the lysosomal cystine carrier. As a result, cystine accumulates within lysosomes in many tissues and organs, including the nervous system. Studies with cystine dimethyl ester loaded cells suggest that cystine might induce apoptosis through oxidative stress. Our objective was to investigate the effects of co-administration of cysteamine with the oxidant cystine dimethyl ester on several parameters of oxidative stress in the brain cortex of rats. Animals were injected with 1.6 micromol/g cystine dimethyl ester and/or 0.26 micromol/g body weight cysteamine. Cystine dimethyl ester induced lipoperoxidation, protein carbonylation, and stimulated superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, probably through the formation of free radicals. Cysteamine prevented those effects, possibly increasing cellular thiol pool and acting as a scavenger of free radicals. These results suggest that the antioxidant effect of cysteamine may be important in the treatment of cystinosis.
