Drug phototoxicity in mice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Photobiology

Background:

• Drug-induced phototoxicity is a significant adverse effect.
• A reliable in vivo method is crucial for assessing phototoxic potential.
• Previous studies focused on phenothiazines, necessitating broader drug class evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess acute drug phototoxicity in vivo.
• To determine the suitability of an established method for diverse drug classes.
• To identify novel phototoxic agents and confirm phototoxicity for others.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a quantitative in vivo method for acute drug phototoxicity assessment in mice.
• Applied the method to various drug classes including tetracyclines, protoporphyrin, psoralens, and sulfa drugs.
• Evaluated drugs with alleged photosensitizing properties.

Main Results:

• The in vivo method proved effective for phenothiazines, tetracyclines, protoporphyrin, and psoralens.
• Sulfanilamide showed weak activity within the sulfa drug group.
• In vivo phototoxicity was demonstrated for the first time for griseofulvin, nalidixic acid, imperatorin, kynurenic acid, and amiodarone.

Conclusions:

• The quantitative in vivo method is versatile for assessing phototoxicity across different drug classes.
• Several agents, including griseofulvin, nalidixic acid, and amiodarone, exhibit significant in vivo phototoxicity.
• This research expands the understanding of drug-induced phototoxicity and identifies new agents of concern.