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Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2017) | Viewed by 73900

Special Issue Editors

Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Klinikum Hanau, Teaching Hospital of the Goethe University, 999035 Frankfurt, Germany
Interests: alcoholic liver disease; alcoholic liver injury; alcohol metabolism; microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system; drug induced liver injury; herb induced liver injury; herbal traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); dietary supplements; causality assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Pharmacovigilance Consultancy, Paris, France
Interests: drug induced liver injury (DILI); hepatotoxicity causality assessment; Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment (RUCAM); pharmacovigilance; drug hepatotoxicity; drug safety; adverse drug reactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Drugs may cause liver injury in a few susceptible individuals, but the molecular events that lead to this idiosyncratic, dose independent and non-predictable drug induced liver injury (DILI) are mostly unknown since animal models to explore the pathogenetic mechanisms are not yet reliable. Little more is known about molecular events in connection with the intrinsic, dose dependent DILI since animal studies can clarify some questions of the underlying pathogenetic conditions. Molecular risk factors of idiosyncratic DILI include drug lipophilicity, high daily dose, and high metabolic rate, in addition to genetic factors that may initiate liver injury. Nevertheless, many pathogenetic challenges at the molecular level remain unknown. Uncertainties also relate to possible molecular diagnostic biomarkers, whether these could assist RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessing Method) to establish causality for suspected drugs in DILI cases. Clearly, much more research is still warranted to elucidate molecular pathogenetic events in DILI which may help to establish diagnostic biomarkers.  The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a broad updated overview on these molecular related hepatotoxicity features with their challenges and highlights and to encourage more molecular research in DILI. We, therefore, asked experts in the field to contribute with their views to this emerging and fascinating topic of molecular aspects. Since some topics are still controversial, we expect and appreciate lively discussions, in addition to well-settled issues that are relevant to the clinical setting of molecular DILI and require balanced statements.

Prof. Dr. Rolf Teschke
Dr. Gaby Danan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • drug induced liver injury (DILI)
  • hepatotoxicity
  • drug hepatotoxicity
  • drugs
  • drug lipophilicity
  • drug metabolism
  • daily drug dose
  • RUCAM
  • diagnostic biomarkers
  • microRNA
  • HLA
  • molecular DILI pathophysiology
  • molecules

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 167 KiB  
Editorial
Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury
by Rolf Teschke and Gaby Danan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(1), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19010216 - 11 Jan 2018
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3873
Abstract
Drugs may cause liver injury in a few susceptible individuals, but the molecular events that lead to this idiosyncratic, largely dose-independent and non-predictable drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are mostly unknown, since animal models to explore the pathogenetic mechanisms of human idiosyncratic DILI are [...] Read more.
Drugs may cause liver injury in a few susceptible individuals, but the molecular events that lead to this idiosyncratic, largely dose-independent and non-predictable drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are mostly unknown, since animal models to explore the pathogenetic mechanisms of human idiosyncratic DILI are not yet reliable.[...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)

Research

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2678 KiB  
Article
Mechanism Investigation of Rifampicin-Induced Liver Injury Using Comparative Toxicoproteomics in Mice
by Ju-Hyun Kim, Woong Shik Nam, Sun Joo Kim, Oh Kwang Kwon, Eun Ji Seung, Jung Jae Jo, Riya Shresha, Tae Hee Lee, Tae Won Jeon, Sung Hwan Ki, Hye Suk Lee and Sangkyu Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071417 - 02 Jul 2017
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 6954
Abstract
Tuberculosis is one of the top causes of death among curable infectious diseases; it is an airborne infectious disease that killed 1.1 million people worldwide in 2010. Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury is the primary cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Rifampicin is one [...] Read more.
Tuberculosis is one of the top causes of death among curable infectious diseases; it is an airborne infectious disease that killed 1.1 million people worldwide in 2010. Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury is the primary cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Rifampicin is one of the most common anti-tuberculosis therapies and has well-known hepatotoxicity. To understand the mechanism of rifampicin-induced liver injury, we performed a global proteomic analysis of liver proteins by LC-MS/MS in a mouse model after the oral administration of 177 and 442.5 mg/kg rifampicin (LD10 and LD25) for 14 days. Based on the biochemical parameters in the plasma after rifampicin treatment, the hepatotoxic effect of rifampicin in the mouse liver was defined as a mixed liver injury. In the present study, we identified 1101 proteins and quantified 1038 proteins. A total of 29 and 40 proteins were up-regulated and 27 and 118 proteins were down-regulated in response to 177 and 442.5 mg/kg rifampicin, respectively. Furthermore, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses to characterize the mechanism of rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity. In the molecular function category, glutathione transferase activity was up-regulated and proteins related to arachidonic acid metabolism were down-regulated. In the KEGG pathway enrichment-based clustering analysis, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) signaling pathway, cytochrome P450, glutathione metabolism, chemical carcinogenesis, and related proteins increased dose-dependently in rifampicin-treated livers. Taken together, this study showed in-depth molecular mechanism of rifampicin-induced liver injury by comparative toxicoproteomics approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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860 KiB  
Article
Associations of Drug Lipophilicity and Extent of Metabolism with Drug-Induced Liver Injury
by Kristin McEuen, Jürgen Borlak, Weida Tong and Minjun Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071335 - 22 Jun 2017
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 4444
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), although rare, is a frequent cause of adverse drug reactions resulting in warnings and withdrawals of numerous medications. Despite the research community’s best efforts, current testing strategies aimed at identifying hepatotoxic drugs prior to human trials are not sufficiently [...] Read more.
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), although rare, is a frequent cause of adverse drug reactions resulting in warnings and withdrawals of numerous medications. Despite the research community’s best efforts, current testing strategies aimed at identifying hepatotoxic drugs prior to human trials are not sufficiently powered to predict the complex mechanisms leading to DILI. In our previous studies, we demonstrated lipophilicity and dose to be associated with increased DILI risk and, and in our latest work, we factored reactive metabolites into the algorithm to predict DILI. Given the inconsistency in determining the potential for drugs to cause DILI, the present study comprehensively assesses the relationship between DILI risk and lipophilicity and the extent of metabolism using a large published dataset of 1036 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs by considering five independent DILI annotations. We found that lipophilicity and the extent of metabolism alone were associated with increased risk for DILI. Moreover, when analyzed in combination with high daily dose (≥100 mg), lipophilicity was statistically significantly associated with the risk of DILI across all datasets (p < 0.05). Similarly, the combination of extensive hepatic metabolism (≥50%) and high daily dose (≥100 mg) was also strongly associated with an increased risk of DILI among all datasets analyzed (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that both lipophilicity and the extent of hepatic metabolism can be considered important risk factors for DILI in humans, and that this relationship to DILI risk is much stronger when considered in combination with dose. The proposed paradigm allows the convergence of different published annotations to a more uniform assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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3317 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Potential Risk of Drugs to Induce Hepatotoxicity in Human—Relationships between Hepatic Steatosis Observed in Non-Clinical Toxicity Study and Hepatotoxicity in Humans-
by Keisuke Goda, Akio Kobayashi, Akemi Takahashi, Tadakazu Takahashi, Kosuke Saito, Keiko Maekawa, Yoshiro Saito and Shoichiro Sugai
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(4), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18040810 - 12 Apr 2017
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4145
Abstract
In the development of drugs, we sometimes encounter fatty change of the hepatocytes (steatosis) which is not accompanied by degenerative change in the liver in non-clinical toxicity studies. In this study, we investigated the relationships between fatty change of the hepatocytes noted in [...] Read more.
In the development of drugs, we sometimes encounter fatty change of the hepatocytes (steatosis) which is not accompanied by degenerative change in the liver in non-clinical toxicity studies. In this study, we investigated the relationships between fatty change of the hepatocytes noted in non-clinical toxicity studies of compound X, a candidate compound in drug development, and mitochondrial dysfunction in order to estimate the potential risk of the compound to induce drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in humans. We conducted in vivo and in vitro exploratory studies for this purpose. In vivo lipidomics analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between alteration of the hepatic lipids and mitochondrial dysfunction. In the liver of rats treated with compound X, triglycerides containing long-chain fatty acids, which are the main energy source of the mitochondria, accumulated. Accumulation of these triglycerides was considered to be related to the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration based on the results of in vitro mitochondria toxicity studies. In conclusion, fatty change of the hepatocytes (steatosis) in non-clinical toxicity studies of drug candidates can be regarded as a critical finding for the estimation of their potential risk to induce DILI in humans when the fatty change is induced by mitochondrial dysfunction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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5311 KiB  
Article
In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of Interaction between Ximelagatran and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DRB1*07:01
by Makoto Hirasawa, Katsunobu Hagihara, Koji Abe, Osamu Ando and Noriaki Hirayama
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(4), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18040694 - 24 Mar 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4208
Abstract
Idiosyncratic ximelagatran-induced hepatotoxicity has been reported to be associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*07:01 and ximelagatran has been reported to inhibit the binding of the ligand peptide to HLA-DRB1*07:01 in vitro. In order to predict the possible interaction modes of ximelagatran with HLA-DR [...] Read more.
Idiosyncratic ximelagatran-induced hepatotoxicity has been reported to be associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*07:01 and ximelagatran has been reported to inhibit the binding of the ligand peptide to HLA-DRB1*07:01 in vitro. In order to predict the possible interaction modes of ximelagatran with HLA-DR molecules, in silico docking simulations were performed. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were also performed to predict the effect of ximelagatran on the binding mode of the ligand peptide to HLA-DRB1*07:01. A series of in silico simulations supported the inhibitory effect of ximelagatran on the binding of the ligand peptide to HLA-DRB1*07:01 in vitro. Furthermore, direct interactions of ximelagatran with HLA-DR molecules were evaluated in vitro, which supported the simulated interaction mode of ximelagatran with HLA-DRB1*07:01. These results indicated that ximelagatran directly interacts with the peptide binding groove of HLA-DRB1*07:01 and competes with the ligand peptide for the binding site, which could alter the immune response and lead to the idiosyncratic ximelagatran-induced hepatotoxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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2717 KiB  
Article
Revisiting the Metabolism and Bioactivation of Ketoconazole in Human and Mouse Using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics
by Ju-Hyun Kim, Won-Gu Choi, Sangkyu Lee and Hye Suk Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(3), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18030621 - 13 Mar 2017
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6565
Abstract
Although ketoconazole (KCZ) has been used worldwide for 30 years, its metabolic characteristics are poorly described. Moreover, the hepatotoxicity of KCZ limits its therapeutic use. In this study, we used liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to evaluate the metabolic profile of KCZ in mouse [...] Read more.
Although ketoconazole (KCZ) has been used worldwide for 30 years, its metabolic characteristics are poorly described. Moreover, the hepatotoxicity of KCZ limits its therapeutic use. In this study, we used liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to evaluate the metabolic profile of KCZ in mouse and human and identify the mechanisms underlying its hepatotoxicity. A total of 28 metabolites of KCZ, 11 of which were novel, were identified in this study. Newly identified metabolites were classified into three categories according to the metabolic positions of a piperazine ring, imidazole ring, and N-acetyl moiety. The metabolic characteristics of KCZ in human were comparable to those in mouse. Moreover, three cyanide adducts of KCZ were identified in mouse and human liver microsomal incubates as “flags” to trigger additional toxicity study. The oxidation of piperazine into iminium ion is suggested as a biotransformation responsible for bioactivation. In summary, the metabolic characteristics of KCZ, including reactive metabolites, were comprehensively understood using a metabolomics approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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2024 KiB  
Article
A New Oleanolic Acid Derivative against CCl4-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats
by Hongjun Xiang, Yaotian Han, Yuzhong Zhang, Wenqiang Yan, Bing Xu, Fuhao Chu, Tianxin Xie, Menglu Jia, Mengmeng Yan, Rui Zhao, Penglong Wang and Haimin Lei
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18030553 - 06 Mar 2017
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4785
Abstract
A novel hepatoprotective oleanolic acid derivative, 3-oxours-oleana-9(11), 12-dien-28-oic acid (Oxy-Di-OA), has been reported. In previous studies, we found that Oxy-Di-OA presented the anti-HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) activity (IC50 = 3.13 µg/mL). Remarkably, it is superior to lamivudine in the inhibition of the [...] Read more.
A novel hepatoprotective oleanolic acid derivative, 3-oxours-oleana-9(11), 12-dien-28-oic acid (Oxy-Di-OA), has been reported. In previous studies, we found that Oxy-Di-OA presented the anti-HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) activity (IC50 = 3.13 µg/mL). Remarkably, it is superior to lamivudine in the inhibition of the rebound of the viral replication rate. Furthermore, Oxy-Di-OA showed good performance of anti-HBV activity in vivo. Some studies showed that liver fibrosis may affiliate with HBV gene mutations. In addition, the anti-hepatic fibrosis activity of Oxy-Di-OA has not been studied. Therefore, we evaluated the protective effect of Oxy-Di-OA against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. Daily intraperitoneally administration of Oxy-Di-OA prevented the development of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, which was evidenced by histological study and immunohistochemical analysis. The entire experimental protocol lasted nine weeks. Oxy-Di-OA significantly suppressed the increases of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Oxy-Di-OA could prevent expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). It is worth noting that the high-dose group Oxy-Di-OA is superior to bifendate in elevating hepatic function. Compared to the model group, Oxy-Di-OA in the high-dose group and low-dose group can significantly reduce the liver and spleen indices (p < 0.05). The acute toxicity test showed that LD50 and a 95% confidence interval (CIs) value of Oxy-Di-OA were 714.83 mg/kg and 639.73–798.73 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection in mice, respectively. The LD50 value of Oxy-Di-OA exceeded 2000 mg/kg via gavage in mice. In addition, a simple and rapid high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method was developed and validated to study the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the compound. After single-dose oral administration, time to reach peak concentration of Oxy-Di-OA (Cmax = 8.18 ± 0.66 μg/mL) was 10 ± 2.19 h; the elimination half-life and area under the concentration-time curve from t = 0 to the last time of Oxy-Di-OA was 2.19 h and 90.21 μg·h/mL, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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6585 KiB  
Article
Reduced SHARPIN and LUBAC Formation May Contribute to CCl4- or Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Mice
by Takeshi Yamamotoya, Yusuke Nakatsu, Yasuka Matsunaga, Toshiaki Fukushima, Hiroki Yamazaki, Sunao Kaneko, Midori Fujishiro, Takako Kikuchi, Akifumi Kushiyama, Fuminori Tokunaga, Tomoichiro Asano and Hideyuki Sakoda
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(2), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18020326 - 04 Feb 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5565
Abstract
Linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), composed of SHARPIN (SHANK-associated RH domain-interacting protein), HOIL-1L (longer isoform of heme-oxidized iron-regulatory protein 2 ubiquitin ligase-1), and HOIP (HOIL-1L interacting protein), forms linear ubiquitin on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) essential modulator (NEMO) and induces NF-κB pathway activation. [...] Read more.
Linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), composed of SHARPIN (SHANK-associated RH domain-interacting protein), HOIL-1L (longer isoform of heme-oxidized iron-regulatory protein 2 ubiquitin ligase-1), and HOIP (HOIL-1L interacting protein), forms linear ubiquitin on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) essential modulator (NEMO) and induces NF-κB pathway activation. SHARPIN expression and LUBAC formation were significantly reduced in the livers of mice 24 h after the injection of either carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or acetaminophen (APAP), both of which produced the fulminant hepatitis phenotype. To elucidate its pathological significance, hepatic SHARPIN expression was suppressed in mice by injecting shRNA adenovirus via the tail vein. Seven days after this transduction, without additional inflammatory stimuli, substantial inflammation and fibrosis with enhanced hepatocyte apoptosis occurred in the livers. A similar but more severe phenotype was observed with suppression of HOIP, which is responsible for the E3 ligase activity of LUBAC. Furthermore, in good agreement with these in vivo results, transduction of Hepa1-6 hepatoma cells with SHARPIN, HOIL-1L, or HOIP shRNA adenovirus induced apoptosis of these cells in response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) stimulation. Thus, LUBAC is essential for the survival of hepatocytes, and it is likely that reduction of LUBAC is a factor promoting hepatocyte death in addition to the direct effect of drug toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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Review

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1464 KiB  
Review
“Autoimmune(-Like)” Drug and Herb Induced Liver Injury: New Insights into Molecular Pathogenesis
by Marcial Sebode, Lisa Schulz and Ansgar W. Lohse
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(9), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091954 - 12 Sep 2017
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5869
Abstract
Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and hepatic injury due to herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) can adapt clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), such as the appearance of autoantibodies and infiltration of the liver by immune competent cells. To describe these cases of [...] Read more.
Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and hepatic injury due to herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) can adapt clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), such as the appearance of autoantibodies and infiltration of the liver by immune competent cells. To describe these cases of DILI/HDS, the poorly-defined term “autoimmune(-like)” DILI/HDS came up. It is uncertain if these cases represent a subgroup of DILI/HDS with distinct pathomechanistic and prognostic features different from “classical” DILI/HDS. Besides, due to the overlap of clinical characteristics of “immune-mediated” DILI/HDS and AIH, both entities are not easy to differentiate. However, the demarcation is important, especially with regard to treatment: AIH requires long-term, mostly lifelong immunosuppression, whereas DILI/HDS does not. Only through exact diagnostic evaluation, exclusion of differential diagnoses and prolonged follow-up can the correct diagnosis reliably be made. Molecular mechanisms have not been analysed for the subgroup of “autoimmune(-like)” DILI/HDS yet. However, several pathogenetic checkpoints of DILI/HDS in general and AIH are shared. An analysis of these shared mechanisms might hint at relevant molecular processes of “autoimmune(-like)” DILI/HDS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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1116 KiB  
Review
Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Cascade of Events Leading to Cell Death, Apoptosis or Necrosis
by Andrea Iorga, Lily Dara and Neil Kaplowitz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(5), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18051018 - 09 May 2017
Cited by 178 | Viewed by 18007
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) can broadly be divided into predictable and dose dependent such as acetaminophen (APAP) and unpredictable or idiosyncratic DILI (IDILI). Liver injury from drug hepatotoxicity (whether idiosyncratic or predictable) results in hepatocyte cell death and inflammation. The cascade of events [...] Read more.
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) can broadly be divided into predictable and dose dependent such as acetaminophen (APAP) and unpredictable or idiosyncratic DILI (IDILI). Liver injury from drug hepatotoxicity (whether idiosyncratic or predictable) results in hepatocyte cell death and inflammation. The cascade of events leading to DILI and the cell death subroutine (apoptosis or necrosis) of the cell depend largely on the culprit drug. Direct toxins to hepatocytes likely induce oxidative organelle stress (such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial stress) leading to necrosis or apoptosis, while cell death in idiosyncratic DILI (IDILI) is usually the result of engagement of the innate and adaptive immune system (likely apoptotic), involving death receptors (DR). Here, we review the hepatocyte cell death pathways both in direct hepatotoxicity such as in APAP DILI as well as in IDILI. We examine the known signaling pathways in APAP toxicity, a model of necrotic liver cell death. We also explore what is known about the genetic basis of IDILI and the molecular pathways leading to immune activation and how these events can trigger hepatotoxicity and cell death. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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2636 KiB  
Review
Drug Induced Liver Injury: Can Biomarkers Assist RUCAM in Causality Assessment?
by Rolf Teschke, Johannes Schulze, Axel Eickhoff and Gaby Danan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(4), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18040803 - 11 Apr 2017
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 8538
Abstract
Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is a potentially serious adverse reaction in a few susceptible individuals under therapy by various drugs. Health care professionals facing DILI are confronted with a wealth of drug-unrelated liver diseases with high incidence and prevalence rates, which can [...] Read more.
Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is a potentially serious adverse reaction in a few susceptible individuals under therapy by various drugs. Health care professionals facing DILI are confronted with a wealth of drug-unrelated liver diseases with high incidence and prevalence rates, which can confound the DILI diagnosis. Searching for alternative causes is a key element of RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method) to assess rigorously causality in suspected DILI cases. Diagnostic biomarkers as blood tests would be a great help to clinicians, regulators, and pharmaceutical industry would be more comfortable if, in addition to RUCAM, causality of DILI can be confirmed. High specificity and sensitivity are required for any diagnostic biomarker. Although some risk factors are available to evaluate liver safety of drugs in patients, no valid diagnostic or prognostic biomarker exists currently for idiosyncratic DILI when a liver injury occurred. Identifying a biomarker in idiosyncratic DILI requires detailed knowledge of cellular and biochemical disturbances leading to apoptosis or cell necrosis and causing leakage of specific products in blood. As idiosyncratic DILI is typically a human disease and hardly reproducible in animals, pathogenetic events and resulting possible biomarkers remain largely undisclosed. Potential new diagnostic biomarkers should be evaluated in patients with DILI and RUCAM-based established causality. In conclusion, causality assessment in cases of suspected idiosyncratic DILI is still best achieved using RUCAM since specific biomarkers as diagnostic blood tests that could enhance RUCAM results are not yet available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Drug Induced Liver Injury)
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