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Alloxan cytotoxicity involves lysosomal damage

The cytotoxic effects of alloxan are not understood in any great detail, although they are considered to involve reactions mediated by oxygen‐derived free radicals. These reactive species may form extra‐or intracellularly following alloxan reduction, and result in cell damage through a number of complex interactions with a variety of macromolecules. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate further the early intracellular effects of alloxan on a model system of macrophage‐like cells in culture. Addition of alloxan (15 mM), without reducing agents, to the medium surrounding the cells (phosphate‐buffered saline, PBS, 37°C, pH 7.4) resulted in rapid lysosomal damage (disappearance of the proton gradient over the membrane) followed by severe cellular degeneration (swelling and blebbing) and 50% cell death (trypan blue dye exclusion test) within fifty min. Cells pretreated with the γ‐glutamyl cysteine synthetase‐inhibiting agent BSO, to decrease levels of intracellular glutathione, showed enhanced sensitivity to alloxan. The results are interpreted as indicating the cytotoxicity to result from intracellular formation of superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, the latter within secondary lysosomes containing trace amounts of reactive iron (inducing Fenton reactions). The ensuing lysosomal membrane damage may result in leakage of lysosomal hydrolases and further cellular degeneration.