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Cited by 108Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsImmunotoxicology and immune responsesDrug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection

Studies on the in vitro cytotoxic effect of amiodarone.

Chiovato, L, Martino, E, Tonacchera, M, Santini, F, Lapi, P, Mammoli, C, Braverman, L E, Pinchera, A·1994·Endocrinology
DOI 10.1210/endo.134.5.8156930
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Abstract

Amiodarone, a potent antiarrhythmic drug, contains 37.2% iodine by weight and may induce either hypo- or hyperthyroidism. The high iodine content of amiodarone may be responsible for both complications, but a cytotoxic effect of the drug on the thyroid resulting in thyroiditis has been reported. In the present study the cytotoxic effect of amiodarone was evaluated in three culture systems with different biological properties: 1) a strain of rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5 cells) that maintains most differentiated functions of normal thyroid cells, including an active iodide pump, but an inability to organify iodide; 2) a line of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts; and 3) freshly prepared primary cultures of human thyroid follicles (hTF) that trap and organify iodide. Cells were radiolabeled with 51Cr and incubated for 24 h with medium alone, medium plus amiodarone (3.75-200 microM), medium plus an iodinated radiographic contrast agent (sodium diatrizoate; 7.5-200 microM), or medium plus potassium iodide (7.5-300 microM). At concentrations ranging from 75-200 microM, amiodarone induced a significant and dose-dependent release of 51Cr in FRTL-5 cells. In contrast, diatrizoate or KI had no cytotoxic effect on FRTL-5 cells. In the same molar concentrations, amiodarone was also cytotoxic in CHO cells. In hTF, the release of 51Cr produced by amiodarone occurred at a lower concentration (37.5 vs. 75 microM) and was significantly greater than that in FRTL-5 cells. The cytotoxic effect of amiodarone in hTF was partially, but significantly, reduced by methimazole, an inhibitor of iodide organification. In the FRTL-5 cell culture system, amiodarone also produced a dramatic inhibition of TSH-stimulated cell growth. This growth-inhibiting effect of amiodarone was evident at low concentrations (3.75-7.5 mumol/liter) of the drug, which did not produce significant cytotoxicity. In conclusion, 1) amiodarone had a cytotoxic effect in CHO fibroblasts, a nonthyroid cell line; 2) this cytotoxic effect occurred in thyroid cells independent of their ability to organify iodide; 3) however, the toxic effect of amiodarone was greater and occurred at a lower molar concentration in freshly prepared human thyroid follicles that trap and organify iodide; and 4) in the latter culture system, methimazole, an inhibitor of iodide organification, partially, but significantly, reduced the cytotoxic effect of amiodarone. These data suggest that thyroid cytotoxicity produced by amiodarone is mainly due to a direct effect of the drug on thyroid cells, but excess iodide released from the drug may contribute to its toxic action.

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  • Two distinct mechanisms have been proposed in the development of AIT: an iodine-induced form of hyperthyroidism (type 1 AIT) due to the high iodine content of amiodarone (37% by molecular weight) and a destructive thyroiditis (type 2 AIT) due to direct toxicity of amiodarone on follicular cells.

    “Two distinct mechanisms have been proposed in the development of AIT, including an iodine-induced form of hyperthyroidism (type 1 AIT) due to the high iodine content of amiodarone (37% by molecular weight) and a destructive thyroiditis (type 2 AIT) due to direct toxicity of amiodarone on follicular cells.”

    From 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis (2016) · cites this paper as [580]

  • Type 1 AIT tends to occur in patients with underlying thyroid autonomy in a nodular goiter or GD, whereas type 2 AIT occurs as a result of direct damage or induction of apoptosis in thyrocytes by amiodarone.

    “Type 1 AIT tends to occur in patients with underlying thyroid autonomy in a nodular goiter, or GD, whereas type 2 AIT occurs as a result of direct damage or induction of apoptosis in thyrocytes by amiodarone (579-582).”

    From 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis (2016) · cites this paper as [580]

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Authors
Chiovato, L., Martino, E., Tonacchera, M., Santini, F., Lapi, P., Mammoli, C., Braverman, L. E., & Pinchera, A.
Affiliations
University of Pisa (IT)
ORCID
Venue
Endocrinology
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
1994-05
Volume
134
Issue
5
Pages
2277-2282
ISSN
  • 0013-7227 (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7170
DOI
10.1210/endo.134.5.8156930
OpenAlex
W2087205488
Cited by
107
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (7r01dk018919-24)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK DK-18919)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection
Keywords
amiodarone, cytotoxicity, thyroid cells, FRTL-5 cells, iodide organification, methimazole, thyroiditis, iodine-containing drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs, thyroid dysfunction, sodium diatrizoate, potassium iodide, chromium-51
MeSH terms
Amiodarone, Animals, Cell Division, Cell Line, Cell Survival, Cells, Cultured, Chromium Radioisotopes, Diatrizoate, DNA, Cricetinae, Humans, Iodides, Methimazole, Potassium Iodide, Thyroid Gland, Thyrotropin, CHO Cells, Rats

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