Ruthenium red protects HepG2 cells overexpressing CYP2E1 against acetaminophen cytotoxicity.

We studied the mechanisms of acetaminophen (APAP) cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells overexpressing cytochrome p4502E1, particularly the role of oxidative/nitrosative stress and ryanodine Ca2+ channel. Cells were grown for 24 h with APAP in the presence or absence of 4-methylpyrazole (4MP), L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), superoxide dismutase (SOD), or ruthenium red (RuR). Drug cytotoxicity was also tested in cells pretreated overnight with V-PYRRO/NO.