In vitro study of lovastatin interactions with amiodarone and with carbon tetrachloride in isolated rat hepatocytes

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the interactions at a metabolic level between lovastatin, amiodarone and carbon tetrachloride in isolated rat hepatocytes.

METHODS: For cell isolation two-step collagenase liver perfusion was performed. Lovastatin was administered alone in increasing concentrations (1 μmol/L, 3 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L) and in combination with CCl₄ (86 μmol/L). The cells were also pretreated with 14 μmol/L amiodarone and then the other two compounds were added.

RESULTS: Lovastatin promoted concentration-dependent significant toxicity estimated by decrease in cell viability and GSH level by 45% and 84%, respectively. LDH-activity increased by 114% and TBARS content by 90%. CCl₄ induced the expected severe damage on the examined parameters. CCl₄ induced toxicity was attenuated after lovastatin pretreatment, which was expressed in less increased values of LDH activity and TBARS levels, as well as in less decreased cell viability and GSH concentrations. However, the pretreatment of hepatocytes with amiodarone abolished the protective effect of lovastatin.

CONCLUSION: We suggest that the observed cytopro-tective effect was due to interactions between lovastatin, CCl₄ and amiodarone at a metabolic level.

Key Words: Hepatocytes; Lovastatin; Carbon tetrachloride; Amiodarone; Interaction

INTRODUCTION

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, commonly referred to as statins, are widely used in hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular events[1]. Statins inhibit the rate-limiting step in the mevalonate pathway, reducing the endogenous de novo synthesis of cholesterol[1]. Statins differ with respect to their pharmacokinetic properties and drug interaction profiles. Lovastatin is intensively metabolized by CYP3A4[2-4].

The most common side effect during statin-therapy is skeletal muscle toxicity (from myalgia to rhabdomyolisis). Some cases of statin-related liver toxicity have also been reported[5-8]. The incidence is heightened, when statins are used in combination with other compounds, fibrates, NSAID, and ethanol-intake[2,9], which is connected to their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

However, some recent in vitro data suggest that statins can promote potent systemic antioxidant effects through suppression of oxidation pathways[10-12]. In hypercholesterolic animals Chen et al[13] have found that lovastatin, as well as vitamin E and amlodipine, reduced lipid peroxidation and preserved superoxide dismutase activity. El-Swefy S et al[14] found that lovastatin provided antioxidant protection in a hyperlipidemic-diabetic hamster experimental model.

The precise mechanisms underlying the lovastatin-induced toxicity and its eventual antioxidant protection remain to be clarified.

This study also aims to evaluate the interactions between lovastatin, amiodarone and carbon tetrachloride at a metabolic level in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. It is well-known that the three compounds are substrates of the CYP P450 enzyme system.

The effects of increasing concentrations of lovastatin were evaluated. The concentration of 10 μmol/L, where the most significant change has been observed, was chosen.

In another experiment the possible antioxidant effect of lovastatin in co-treatment with carbon tetrachloride, a known toxic liver agent, was assessed. To clarify the potential mechanism underlying this protective effect, amiodarone, a substrate of CYP3A4, was used.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials

Animals: Male Wistar rats (200 ± 20 g b.w.) were used. Rats were housed in Plexiglas cages (3 animals per cage) in a 12/12 light/dark cycle, temperature 20 ± 2°C. Food and water were provided ad libitum. Animals were purchased from the National Breeding Centre, Sofia, Bulgaria. All performed procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care Committee and were in accordance with European Union Guidelines for animal experimentation.

Chemicals and reagents: The following chemicals and reagents were used: lovastatin (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); amiodarone (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); Pentobarbital sodium (Sanofi, France); Hepes [N-(2-hydroxuethyl) piperazine-N’-(2-ethanesulfonic acid)] (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); NaCl (Merck, Germany); KCl (Merck, Germany); D-Glucosa (Merck, Germany); NaHCO₃ (Merck, Germany); KH₂PO₄ (Scharlau Chemie S.A., Spain); CaCl_2•2H₂O (Merck, Germany); MgSO_4•7H₂O (Fluka AG, Germany); collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum Type IV (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); bovine albumin serum Fraction V, minimum 98% (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); EGTA (ethylene glycol-bis (β-aminoethylether)-N, N, N’, N’-tetraacetic acid) (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); 2-thiobarbituric acid (4, 6-dihydroxypyrimidine-2-thiol) (TBA) (Sigma Aldrich, Germany); trichloroacetic acid (TCA) (Valerus, Bulgaria); carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (Merck, Germany); 2, 2’-Dinitro-5, 5’-dithiodibenzoic acid (DTNB) (Merck, Germany); lactate dehydrogenase Kit (LD opt.) (Randox, United Kingdom); penicillin G, Williams'E culture medium (Gibco-BRL); trypsin-EDTA (Gibco-BRL); hydrocortisone; fetal bovine serum (Invitrogen Carlsbad, CA); nitrocellulose membrane (Hybond); primary antibodies: CYP3A4 and CYP 2B1 (Polyclonal Chemicon, Eutromedex); rabbit anti-rabbit IgG HRP-conjugated (Dako rabbit immunoglobulins); ECL western blotting detection reagents and analysis system (Amersham, Les Ulis, France).

Isolation and incubation of hepatocytes: Rats were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal application of pentobarbital sodium (0.2 mL/100 g). In situ two-step collagenase liver perfusion and cell isolation were performed as previously described by Fau with our modifications[15].

After portal catheterization, the liver was perfused with 100 mL HEPES buffer (pH 7.85), containing 10 mmol/L HEPES, 142 mmol/L NaCl, 7 mmol/L KCl, 5 mmol/L glucose + 0.6 mmol/L EDTA (pH 7.85), followed by 200 mL HEPES buffer (pH 7.85) only and finally 200 mL HEPES buffer containing collagenase type IV (50 mg/200 mL) and 7 mmol/L CaCl₂ (pH 7.85). The liver was excised, minced into small pieces and hepatocytes were dispersed in 50 mL Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate (KRB) buffer containing 1.2 mmol/L KH₂PO₄, 1 mmol/L CaCl₂, 1.2 mmol/L MgSO₄, 5 mmol/L KCl, 5 mmol/L NaHCO₃, 4.5 mmol/L glucose and 1% bovine serum albumin. After filtration, the hepatocytes were centrifuged at 500 ×g for 1 min and washed 3 times with KRB buffer.

Cells were counted by light microscopy and viability was estimated by the Trypan blue (0.2%) exclusion test. Only preparations with viability higher than 80% were used. Cells were diluted with KRB buffer (pH 7.35) to make a suspension of approximately 3 × 10⁶ hepatocytes per mL.

Incubations were carried out in 25-mL Erlenmeyer flasks. Each flask contained 3 mL of the cell suspension (i.e. 9 × 10⁶ hepatocytes) with or without various additions, as indicated below. Incubations were performed in a 95% O₂ + 5% CO₂ atmosphere at 37°C[10]. The following series of experiments were performed: (1) The cells were treated in vitro with lovastatin in increasing concentrations (0.1-10 μmol/L); (2) The cells were pretreated for 15 min with lovastatin and then loaded with 86 μmol/L CCl₄; (3) The cells were treated with 14 μmol/L amiodarone.

The cells were pretreated for 15 min with 14 μmol/L amiodarone, then with 10 μmol/L lovastatin for 15 min and at the end 86 μmol/L CCl₄ was added. Non-treated hepatocytes were used as controls. Shaking incubations of the samples were performed for 1 h under 95% O₂ + 5% CO₂ at 37°C. Thus, the metabolic activities of the hepatocytes were best preserved.

Primary culture of rat hepatocytes

After isolation the hepatocytes were cultured at 37°C under a 5% CO₂, 95% air atmosphere in Williams E culture medium, supplemented with fetal calf serum and penicillin (1000 U/mL)[16]. After cell attachment (3 h) the medium was replaced by a new, serum-free medium containing hydrocortisone (70 μmol/L) and 31 μmol/L lovastatin[17,18]. After 24 h the cells were recovered and the technique for isolation of microsomes was performed.

Preparation of rat liver microsomes

After the incubation period the hepatocytes were used for microsome fraction preparation by ultracentrifugation. The cells were homogenized in 3 volumes of ice-cold 0.154 mol/L KCl, 0.01 mol/L sodium potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The homogenate was firstly centrifuged at 10 000 g for 20 min. The supernatant was then centrifuged at 100 000 ×g for 60 min[19]. The microsomal pellet was resuspended in sodium potassium buffer with 20% glycerol and was stored at -80°C.

Trypan blue exclusion assay

At the end of incubation the cells were counted under a microscope and the viability was estimated by a Trypan blue (0.2) exclusion test.

Lactate dehydrogenase assay

Cell injury was assessed by LDH activity. The level of LDH activity was measured in a suspension of isolated hepatocytes as described by Bergmeyer et al[20]. using a commercially available kit (LD opt., Randox).

Measurement of GSH depletion

At the end of the incubation cells were recovered by centrifugation at 4°C and used to measure intracellular glutathione (GSH). GSH level was assessed by measuring nonprotein sulfhydrils after precipitation of proteins with TCA, followed by measurement of thiols in the supernatant by the DTNB reagent[21]. The absorbance was measured at 412 nm.

Determination of lipid peroxidation product

Malondialdehyde levels were determined by monitoring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) according to the method of Fau et al[21].

Hepatocyte suspension (1 mL) was taken and added to 0.67 mL of 20% (w/v) TCA. After centrifugation 1 mL of the supernatant was added to 0.33 ml of 0.67% (w/v) TBA and heated at 100°C for 30 min. The absorbance was measured at 535 nm, and the amount of TBARS was calculated using a molar extinction coefficient of 1.56 × 10⁵ mol/L^-1 cm^-1.

Western blot analysis

The BCA protein assay was performed to obtain protein concentrations.

Isolated microsomes (10 μg of protein) were separated by 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose paper and exposed to rabbit monoclonal IgG antibody (CYP2B1 rabbit-monoclonal IgG) at a dilution recommended by the supplier. The membrane was then washed, and primary antibody was detected with the rabbit anti-rabbit-IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The bands were visualized with enhanced chemiluminescence (Amersham, Les Ulis, France). The films were scanned and the figures were created using the program Adobe Photoshop version CS2.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed and analyzed by one way ANOVA at a significance level of P < 0.05. All data (n = 12) were expressed by mean ± SD. A correlation analysis was also applied by inclusion of all obtained values (software: Statistica 5.0).

RESULTS

The assessed parameters after incubation of hepatocytes with lovastatin in four increasing concentrations are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Cell viability, LDH activity and concentrations of TBARS and GSH after 1 h incubation with lovastatin (mean ± SD).

Groups	Cell viability %	LDH nmol/min/106 cells	TBARSnmol/106 cells	GSH nmol/106 cells
Control	75 ± 5.97	0.157 ± 0.096	0.102 ± 0.018	13.0 ± 2.53
1 μmol/L Lovastatin	68 ± 0.051b	0.214 ± 0.084	0.138 ± 0.061	9.63 ± 1.19
3 μmol/L Lovastatin	52 ± 4.28d	0.248 ± 0.063b	0.158 ± 0.016b	4.68 ± 1.06b
5 μmol/L Lovastatin	48 ± 9.19d	0.272 ± 0.057b	0.169 ± 0.067b	3.93 ± 0.51b
10 μmol/L Lovastatin	41 ± 2.36d	0.336 ± 0.007b	0.194 ± 0.022d	2.05 ± 0.042d

^bP < 0.01 vs control;

^dP < 0.001 vs control.

The low concentrations of lovastatin to 1 μmol/L did not show significant toxic effects.

The addition of 1-10 μmol/L lovastatin promoted a concentration-dependent significant decrease of cell viability and GSH concentration (Table 1, Figure 1). LDH activity and the amount of TBARS also increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. At the highest concentration of lovastatin (10 μmol/L) the following alterations expressed as percentage were recorded: cell viability decreased by 45% (P < 0.001) and GSH concentration by 84% (P < 0.001); LDH activity increased by 114% (P < 0.01) and TBARS content by 90% (P < 0.001) (Table 1, Figure 1). Our results are in accordance with previous findings of hepatotoxicity of lovastatin in the concentration range of 1-100 μmol/L[22].

Figure 1 Changes in the examined parameters (%) after 1 h incubation with different concentrations of lovastatin. The differences are expressed vs the control group.

The assessed parameters after incubation of hepatocytes with increasing lovastatin concentrations and 86 μmol/L CCl₄ are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Cell viability, LDH activity and concentrations of TBARS and GSH after 1 h incubation with different concentrations lovastatin and 86 μmol/L CCl₄ (mean ± SD).

Group	Cell viability(%)	LDH nmol/min/106 cells	TBARS nmol/106 cells	GSHnmol/106 cells
Control	75 ± 5.97	0.157 ± 0.096	0.102 ± 0.018	13.0 ± 2.53
CCl4	35 ± 6.59f	0.563 ± 0.098f	0.304 ± 0.056f	1.24 ± 0.43f
1 μmol/L Lovastatin + CCl4	33 ± 4.99f	0.342 ± 0.028da	0.193 ± 0.004da	1.40 ± 0.49f
3 μmol/L Lovastatin + CCl4	42 ± 4.50d	0.328 ± 0.041a	0.170 ± 0.020a	2.49 ± 0.10f
5 μmol/L Lovastatin + CCl4	43 ± 7.77d	0.291 ± 0.025a	0.160 ± 0.014a	6.55 ± 0.005fb
10 μmol/L Lovastatin + CCl4	45 ± 1.52d	0.239 ± 0.016a	0.130 ± 0.041a	7.50 ± 0.008db

^aP < 0.05 vs CCl₄ group;

^bP < 0.01 vs CCl₄ group;

^dP < 0.01 vs control;

^fP < 0.001 vs control.

CCl₄ administration markedly decreased cell viability by 53% (P < 0.001) and the level of reduced glutathione by 90% (P < 0.001). Treatment with CCl₄ significantly increased LDH activity by 259% (P < 0.001) and TBARS amount by 198% (P < 0.001) (Table 2).

The combination of lovastatin and CCl₄ was also very toxic to the cells. The toxicity was highest in the group treated with 1 μmol/L lovastatin-CCl₄: cell viability and GSH level decreased by 56% (P < 0.001) and by 89% (P < 0.001), respectively versus control group. The LDH-activity and TBARS content increased by 118% (P < 0.01) and 89% (P < 0.01), respectively versus the control group (Table 2, Figure 2).

Figure 2 Changes in the examined parameters (%) after 1 h incubation with 86 μmol/L CCl₄ and different concentrations of lovastatin. The differences are expressed vs the CCl₄ group.

On the other hand, the combination 10 µmol/L lovastatin-CCl₄ preserved the cell viability by 29% (P < 0.001) and GSH level by 505% (P < 0.001), versus the group treated with CCl₄ only; LDH leakage was also less since it decreased by 68% (P < 0.01); and TBARS levels decreased by 57% (P < 0.01) (Table 2, Figure 2).

The assessed parameters after incubation of hepatocytes with amiodarone, lovastatin and CCl₄ are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Cell viability, LDH activity and concentrations of TBARS and GSH after 1 h incubation with 14 μmol/L amiodarone, 10 μmol/L lovastatin and 86 μmol/L CCl₄ (mean ± SD).

Group	Cellviability%	LDHnmol/min/106cells	TBARSnmol/106cells	GSHnmol/106cells
Control	75 ± 5.97	0.157 ± 0.096	0.102 ± 0.018	13.0 ± 2.53
86 μmol/L CCl4	35 ± 6.59j	0.563 ± 0.098j	0.304 ± 0.056j	1.24 ± 0.43j
10 μmol/L Lovastatin	41 ± 2.36j	0.336 ± 0.007f	0.194 ± 0.022j	2.05 ± 0.042h
10 μmol/L Lovastatin + 86 μmol/L CCl4	45 ± 1.52bj	0.239 ± 0.016a	0.130 ± 0.041af	7.50 ± 0.008d
14 μmol/L amiodarone	65 ± 2.71dj	0.229 ± 0.046b	0.156 ± 0.072ah	5.51 ± 1.06fj
14 μmol/L amiodarone + 86 μmol/L CCl4	39 ± 6.63j	0.270 ± 0.032af	0.162 ± 0.059ah	4.80 ± 0.284dj
14 μmol/L amiodarone + 10 μmol/L lovastatin	52 ± 4.58dfj	0.294 ± 0.032hl	0.166 ± 0.063ah	5.42 ± 1.04bjl
14 μmol/L amiodarone + 10 μmol/L lovastatin + 86 μmol/L CCl4	35 ± 2.22j	0.286 ± 0.052f	0.151 ± 0.077af	2.94 ± 1.61j

^aP < 0.05 vs CCl₄ group;

^bP < 0.01 vs CCl₄ group;

^dP < 0.001 vs CCl₄ group;

^fP < 0.01 vs control;

^hP < 0.01 vs control;

^jP < 0.01 vs control;

^lP < 0.01 vs lovastatin group.

Hepatocyte incubation with amiodarone (14 μmol/L) resulted in significant reduction of cell viability by 13% (P < 0.001), increased LDH leakage by 46% (P < 0.05), depletion of GSH by 58% (P < 0.001) and increased TBARS by 53% (P < 0.01) compared to the control (Table 3).

The co-treatment of hepatocytes with amiodarone and lovastatin resulted in the following alterations: cell viability and GSH level decreased by 31% (P < 0.001) and 58% (P < 0.001), respectively; LDH activity increased by 114% (P < 0.01) and TBARS levels by 63% (P < 0.01) vs control group.

The same results assigned to the group treated with lovastatin only, had the following alterations: Cell viability increased by 27 (P < 0.01); LDH-activity decreased by 13% (P < 0.01); GSH level rose by 164% (P < 0.01); TBARS levels didn’t change significantly.

The combination of amiodarone and carbon tetrachloride showed a significant reduction in cell viability-by 48% (P < 0.001) and GSH amount-by 63% (P < 0.001); LDH leakage and TBARS levels rose by 72% (P < 0.05) and 59% (P < 0.01), respectively vs control group.

Pre-incubation of the hepatocytes with amiodarone abolished the protective effect of lovastatin on CCl₄-induced injury. Cell viability decreased by 22% (P < 0.05), GSH level by 61% (P < 0.01) and LDH activity and TBARS level increased by 20% (P > 0.05) and 16% (P > 0.05), respectively vs the group treated with lovastatin and CCl₄.

The correlation coefficient (r) values were between -0.73 and -0.90 for the following correlation pairs: cell viability/LDH activity; cell viability/TBARS content; LDH activity/GSH content; TBARS content/GSH content. The correlation coefficients between cell viability/GSH content and LDH-activity/TBARS content amounted to +0.83 and +0.75, respectively.

All correlation coefficient values were highly significant (P < 0.001).

After incubation of hepatocytes with 31 μmol/L lovastatin, CYP 2B1 protein was quantified by Western blot and expressed as a percentage of the mean value of control cells (Figure 3). Considering absolute values, there was a significant increase (49%) in protein expression by the cells treated with lovastatin.

Figure 3 Effect of lovastatin on CYP 2B1 protein expression in cultured rat hepatocytes. A: Western blot picture B: Expression of CYP2B1 (in %) Hepatocytes were incubated with 31 μmol/L lovastatin before western blotting analysis, as described in the methods part. Data are expressed as mean ± SD obtained from three independent experiments.

DISCUSSION

Isolated hepatocytes provide an opportunity to evaluate the effects of direct interactions of the studied compounds with endogenous factors. The present study showed considerable alterations in isolated hepatocytes under the influence of the tested compounds lovastatin, CCl₄ and amiodarone. We chose CCl₄ not only as a known toxic agent, but also as a substrate of CYP P450 isoenzymes in order to evaluate the precise mechanism of interactions at a metabolic level with lovastatin.

After oral ingestion, lovastatin, which is an inactive lactone, is readily hydrolyzed to the corresponding β-hydroxyacid form and its 6’-hydroxy, 6’-hydroxymethyl, and 6’-hydroxymethylene derivates. The principle metabolite (β-hydroxyacid form) is a specific inhibitor of HMG-CoA-reductase[2] which is pharmacologically active. Previous studies have shown that cytochrome P450 3A enzymes are primarily responsible for the metabolism of lovastatin in rat and human liver microsomes[4,22]. Kocarek et al[17] demonstrated that lovastatin induces several varieties of cytochrome P450, including CYP2B1/2, CYP3A1/2.

It is well known that CCl₄ causes hepatic injury after metabolization by CYP 2E1, CYP 2B1 and to a smaller extend by CYP 3A[18,23]. The formed radicals covalently bind to lipid membranes and other cellular macromolecules[24,25]. CCl₄-induced lipid peroxidation is highly dependent on its bioactivation to the trichloromethyl and trichloromethyl peroxy radicals. Consequently, unsaturated fatty acids in hepatocyte membranes undergo perturbations, resulting in production of lipid peroxides[24,25].

In this study the administration of lovastatin alone exerted toxic effects on isolated hepatocytes estimated by cell viability, LDH activity, the amount of TBARS and GSH level (Table 1). The unfavorable consequences increased gradually with the rising lovastatin concentrations. The correlation is significant and negative. This finding is not surprising, as there are some episodic data pointing at hepatotoxicity due to statin therapy[3,26-29]. The precise mechanism underlying hepatotoxicity has not been fully elucidated. Kornbrust et al[30] have found that the toxicity of high doses of lovastatin to rabbits is a consequence of a highly exaggerated pharmacologic action in blocking mevalonate synthesis. Rousseau et al[3] discovered that lovastatin decreased ubiquinone tissue level in the hypercholesterolemic hamster. In another study Willis et al[4] demonstrate that lovastatin decreased tissue ubiquinone levels in rats. It is well known that ubiquinone acts primarily by preventing the formation of lipid peroxyl radicals[31]. Kubota et al[9] have found that statins (1-100 μmol/L) cause toxicity in cultured human hepatocytes.

CCl₄ induced the expected severe damage demonstrated by markedly elevated levels of LDH activity and decreased cell viability. The increased TBARS content suggests oxidative stress promoting an expressed GSH depletion. In this study CCl₄ toxicity was obviously attenuated after lovastatin pretreatment (Table 2). Recent data suggest that lovastatin prevents hepatic GSH depletion induced by acetaldehyde[32,33]. Jeon et al[34] have found that lovastatin exhibited an inhibitory effect on the plasma and hepatic lipid peroxidation and increased the hepatic catalase activity in high-cholesterol fed rabbits. Chen et al[13] stated that lovastatin reduced lipid peroxidation and preserved superoxide dismutase in vivo in rabbits fed cholesterol diet. These suggestions explain and confirm the biological protective effect of lovastatin. Our data indicating improvement in TBARS and GSH values after lovastatin pretreatment are in accordance with the above investigations.

These phenomena could also be ascribed to an interaction at a metabolic level between lovastatin and CCl₄. As previously mentioned, lovastatin and CCl₄ are metabolized by identical CYP isoenzymes, namely CYP 3A4 and CYP 2B1[17,18]. Our results show that lovastatin induces expression of CYP 2B1 in cultured rat hepatocytes, assessed by Western blot analysis (Figure 1).

We can suggest that in combination both compounds compete for the same isoforms. Thus, the metabolism of lovastatin is inhibited and the active metabolite is less formed. This probably led to the reduced toxicity observed in hepatocytes (Table 2).

To test this hypothesis we pretreated hepatocytes with amiodarone, a substrate and inhibitor of CYP3A4[35]. Amiodarone at a concentration of 14 μmol/L[27] exerted toxic effects (Table 3), manifested by a decrease of cell viability, GSH level and by an increase of LDH leakage and TBARS level.

The pretreatment of hepatocytes with amiodarone, a substrate of CYP 3A4, reduced the toxic effect of lovastatin. We can suggest that an inhibition of its metabolism takes place. Probably amiodarone interferes with the metabolism of lovastatin by the CYP3A4 metabolic pathway, thus the metabolites of lovastatin are less produced and there is no severe toxicity.

In combination with CCl₄, amiodarone is a smaller protector as in the group with lovastatin. The pretreatment of hepatocytes with amiodarone affected the metabolism of CCl₄ by the CYP 3A4 metabolic pathway, which can explain the significantly smaller toxic effect. LDH activity and TBARS levels are less expressed than in the CCl₄ group. Reduced GSH is also preserved. We can speculate that the pretreatment of hepatocytes with amiodarone inhibited the formation of intermediate reactive metabolites and there was no severe damage as observed in the group treated with CCl₄ only.

The combination of the three substrates-amiodarone, lovastatin and CCL₄ resulted in significant toxicity. The applied concentration of amiodarone is probably not sufficient to inhibit at the same time the metabolism of lovastatin and CCl₄. This might explain the lack of protection of lovastatin.

In conclusion, our data show the following phenomena: Lovastatin is hepatotoxic in a concentration-dependent manner; Lovastatin exerts some protective effect on CCl4-induced injury, probably through an interaction of cytochrome P450 on a metabolic level by CYP3A4 and CYP 2B1. The observed protective effect of lovastatin on CCl4-induced toxicity is abolished after pretreatment with amiodarone, substrate and inhibitor of CYP3A4.

Many patients with hyperlipidemia present the concomitant medical problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Statins are very often used in combination with other medications. This raises the potential for adverse drug-drug interactions, which can have serious clinical consequences. Our data suggest that the combined intake of lovastatin with other substrates of different isoforms of cytochrome P450 (drugs, biological active agents) can result in interactions on a biotransformation level. In these cases, clinically, drug-drug interactions may lead to severe toxicity and may force discontinuation of needed pharmacotherapy.