The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells
Nyaope is a local adulterated drug that contributes significantly to the psychosocial challenge of substance use in South Africa. Despite being a huge burden on society and the health care system, research into the deleterious effects of nyaope is limited. The aim of the present study was therefore...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | IBRO Neuroscience Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667242124000149 |
| _version_ | 1797306840450596864 |
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| author | Willie M.U. Daniels Matome M. Sekhotha Nirvana Morgan Ashmeetha Manilall |
| author_facet | Willie M.U. Daniels Matome M. Sekhotha Nirvana Morgan Ashmeetha Manilall |
| author_sort | Willie M.U. Daniels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nyaope is a local adulterated drug that contributes significantly to the psychosocial challenge of substance use in South Africa. Despite being a huge burden on society and the health care system, research into the deleterious effects of nyaope is limited. The aim of the present study was therefore to perform a chemical analysis of the drug and to assess its toxic effects on neuroblastoma cells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis showed that nyaope mainly consists of heroin and heroin-related products. SH-SY5Y cells were subsequently exposed to increasing concentrations of nyaope (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 µg/µL) for 1, 6 or 24 h. The toxic effects of nyaope were determined by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released into the cell culture medium as an indicator of necrosis, the mRNA expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 as markers of apoptosis, and the mRNA expression levels of p62 and microtubule-associated protein 1 A/1B light-chain 3 (LC3) as indicators of autophagy. Exposing SH-SY5Y cells to concentrations of nyaope 5 µg/µL and greater for 24 h, resulted in a significant increase in LDH levels in the cell culture medium, unchanged mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA, and significantly reduced p62 and elevated LC3 mRNA expression levels. The chemical analysis suggests that nyaope should be considered synonymous with heroin and the toxic effects of the drug may recruit pathways involved in necrosis and autophagy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:47:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01c01bce680b42a58dcb3df2d7a2aa9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-2421 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:47:39Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IBRO Neuroscience Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-01c01bce680b42a58dcb3df2d7a2aa9e2024-02-15T05:26:35ZengElsevierIBRO Neuroscience Reports2667-24212024-06-0116280290The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma CellsWillie M.U. Daniels0Matome M. Sekhotha1Nirvana Morgan2Ashmeetha Manilall3School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa; Corresponding author.Department of Physiology and Environmental Health, School of Molecular Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, South AfricaSchool of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry, Ulm University, GermanySchool of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South AfricaNyaope is a local adulterated drug that contributes significantly to the psychosocial challenge of substance use in South Africa. Despite being a huge burden on society and the health care system, research into the deleterious effects of nyaope is limited. The aim of the present study was therefore to perform a chemical analysis of the drug and to assess its toxic effects on neuroblastoma cells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis showed that nyaope mainly consists of heroin and heroin-related products. SH-SY5Y cells were subsequently exposed to increasing concentrations of nyaope (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 µg/µL) for 1, 6 or 24 h. The toxic effects of nyaope were determined by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released into the cell culture medium as an indicator of necrosis, the mRNA expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 as markers of apoptosis, and the mRNA expression levels of p62 and microtubule-associated protein 1 A/1B light-chain 3 (LC3) as indicators of autophagy. Exposing SH-SY5Y cells to concentrations of nyaope 5 µg/µL and greater for 24 h, resulted in a significant increase in LDH levels in the cell culture medium, unchanged mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA, and significantly reduced p62 and elevated LC3 mRNA expression levels. The chemical analysis suggests that nyaope should be considered synonymous with heroin and the toxic effects of the drug may recruit pathways involved in necrosis and autophagy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667242124000149Cell viabilityNecrosisApoptosisAutophagyGas chromatographyPCR |
| spellingShingle | Willie M.U. Daniels Matome M. Sekhotha Nirvana Morgan Ashmeetha Manilall The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells IBRO Neuroscience Reports Cell viability Necrosis Apoptosis Autophagy Gas chromatography PCR |
| title | The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells |
| title_full | The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells |
| title_fullStr | The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells |
| title_short | The Cytotoxic Effects of Nyaope, a Heroin-based Street Drug, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells |
| title_sort | cytotoxic effects of nyaope a heroin based street drug in sh sy5y neuroblastoma cells |
| topic | Cell viability Necrosis Apoptosis Autophagy Gas chromatography PCR |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667242124000149 |
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