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Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen
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Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

Published on: May 30, 2012

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Tamoxifen inhibits mitochondrial membrane damage caused by disulfiram

Natalia Pavón1, Mabel Buelna-Chontal2, Francisco Correa2

  • 1a Departamento de Farmacología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", México D.F.

Biochemistry and Cell Biology = Biochimie Et Biologie Cellulaire
|June 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Tamoxifen (TAM) protects mitochondria from disulfiram (Dis)-induced damage by preventing inner membrane leakiness and enzyme inactivation. TAM

Area of Science:

  • Mitochondrial Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cellular Toxicology

Background:

  • Disulfiram (Dis) induces mitochondrial membrane damage.
  • This insult involves Ca2+ release, swelling, and loss of membrane potential.
  • Oxidative stress is implicated in disulfiram toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective effects of tamoxifen (TAM) against disulfiram-induced mitochondrial injury.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying TAM's protective action.

Main Methods:

  • Mitochondrial membrane integrity assays
  • Enzyme activity measurements (aconitase)
  • Cytochrome c release analysis
  • Hydrogen peroxide production monitoring

Main Results:

  • TAM prevented disulfiram-induced Ca2+ release, mitochondrial swelling, and loss of transmembrane electric gradient.
  • TAM inhibited aconitase inactivation and cytochrome c detachment.
  • TAM suppressed disulfiram-promoted hydrogen peroxide generation.

Conclusions:

  • Tamoxifen exhibits significant protective effects against disulfiram-induced mitochondrial damage.
  • TAM's antioxidant properties likely contribute to its protective mechanism by mitigating oxidative stress.
  • TAM preserves mitochondrial function and integrity under toxic conditions.
Keywords:
disulfiramdisulfiramemitochondriamitochondrieoxidative stressstress oxidanttamoxifentamoxifène

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