Comparative cytotoxic and cytoprotective effects of taurohyodeoxycholic acid (THDCA) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in HepG2 cell line.

Abstract This study was performed to compare the effects of two hydrophilic bile acids, taurohyodeoxycholic acid (THDCA) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), on HepG2 cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated at different times of exposure by incubating cells with increasing concentrations (50–800 μmol/l) of either bile acid, while their cytoprotective effect was tested in comparison with deoxycholic acid (DCA) (350 μmol/l and 750 μmol/l)-induced cytotoxicity. Culture media, harvested at the end of each incubation period, were analyzed to evaluate aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase release. In addition, the hemolytic effect of THDCA and TUDCA on human red blood cells was also determined. At 24 h of incubation neither THDCA nor TUDCA was cytotoxic at concentrations up to 200 and 400 μmol/l. At 800 μmol/l both THDCA and TUDCA induced a slight increase in AST release. At this concentration and with time of exposure prolonged up to 72 h, THDCA and TUDCA induced a progressive increase of AST release significantly ( P P P