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Potential for cardiac toxicity with methylimidazolium ionic liquids
Tarek M Abdelghany1, Shireen A Hedya2, Carol De Santis3
1Institute Translational and Clinical Research, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., Cairo 11562, Egypt; School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, United Kingdom.
Methylimidazolium ionic liquids (MILs) can cause heart toxicity in rats, with longer chains being more harmful. Mice show less sensitivity due to higher cardiac BCRP expression, suggesting potential future human health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Methylimidazolium ionic liquids (MILs) are industrial solvents with increasing environmental presence.
- Potential human exposure to MILs necessitates investigation into their health effects.
- Cardiac toxicity is a potential concern for MILs due to their widespread use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cardiotoxicity of various methylimidazolium ionic liquids (MILs) in a rat model.
- To compare the cardiotoxic effects of MILs with different alkyl chain lengths.
- To investigate the species-specific differences in MIL cardiotoxicity between rats and mice.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assessment of MILs on rat neonatal cardiomyocyte function and survival.
- Sub-acute and chronic oral/drinking water toxicity studies in rats with longer-chain MILs.
- Gene and protein expression analysis (qRT-PCR, Western blotting) in rat and mouse hearts.
- Pharmacological inhibition of specific transporters (BCRP, P-glycoprotein) in mouse cardiomyocyte cell lines.
Main Results:
- Increasing alkyl chain length of MILs correlated with increased cardiotoxicity in vitro.
- Longer-chain MILs (HMI, M8OI, DMI) induced cardiotoxicity in rats, confirmed by clinical chemistry and histopathology.
- Mouse hearts exhibited significantly higher expression of BCRP and P-glycoprotein-3 compared to rat hearts.
- BCRP inhibition partially sensitized mouse cardiomyocytes to MILs, suggesting a role in species difference.
Conclusions:
- Methylimidazolium ionic liquids (MILs) pose a cardiotoxic risk, particularly in rats.
- Higher cardiac BCRP expression in mice may confer resistance to MIL-induced cardiotoxicity.
- MILs represent a potential future human health hazard, with unknown impacts on cardiovascular disease susceptibility.
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