Biochemical Evaluation of the Effects of Hydroxyurea in Vitro on Red Blood Cells
Cristiane Oliveira Renó,
Grazielle Aparecida Silva Maia,
Leilismara Sousa Nogueira,
Melina de Barros Pinheiro,
Danyelle Romana Alves Rios,
Vanessa Faria Cortes,
Leandro Augusto de Oliveira Barbosa,
Hérica de Lima Santos
Affiliations
Cristiane Oliveira Renó
Laboratório de Bioquímica Celular, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Grazielle Aparecida Silva Maia
Laboratório de Bioquímica Celular, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Leilismara Sousa Nogueira
Laboratório de Bioquímica Celular, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Melina de Barros Pinheiro
Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Danyelle Romana Alves Rios
Laboratório de Hematologia Clínica, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Vanessa Faria Cortes
Laboratório de Bioquímica Celular, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Leandro Augusto de Oliveira Barbosa
Laboratório de Bioquímica Celular, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Hérica de Lima Santos
Laboratório de Bioquímica Celular, Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Hydroxyurea (HU) is a low-cost, low-toxicity drug that is often used in diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and different types of cancer. Its effects on the red blood cells (RBC) are still not fully understood. The in vitro effects of HU were evaluated on the biochemical parameters of the RBC from healthy individuals that were treated with 0.6 mM or 0.8 mM HU for 30 min and 1 h. After 30 min, there was a significant increase in almost all of the parameters analyzed in the two concentrations of HU, except for the pyruvate kinase (PK) activity. A treatment with 0.8 mM HU for 1 h resulted in a reduction of the levels of lipid peroxidation, Fe3+, and in the activities of some of the enzymes, such as glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and PK. After the incubation for 1 h, the levels of H2O2, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), enzymatic activity (hexokinase, G6PD, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were reduced with the treatment of 0.8 mM HU when compared with 0.6 mM. The results have suggested that a treatment with HU at a concentration of 0.8 mM seemed to be more efficient in protecting against the free radicals, as well as in treating diseases, such as sickle cell anemia. HU appears to preferentially stimulate the pentose pathway over the glycolytic pathway. Although this study was carried out with the RBC from healthy individuals, the changes described in this study may help to elucidate the mechanisms of action of HU when administered for therapeutic purposes.