Endometriosis Susceptibility to Dapsone-Hydroxylamine-Induced Alterations Can Be Prevented by Licorice Intake: In Vivo and In Vitro Study

Chiara Sabbadin, Alessandra Andrisani, Gabriella Donà, Elena Tibaldi, Anna Maria Brunati, Stefano Dall’Acqua, Eugenio Ragazzi, Guido Ambrosini, Decio Armanini, Luciana Bordin
International journal of molecular sciences · 2021 · vol. 22(16) , pp. 8476 · doi:10.3390/ijms22168476 · PMID:34445180 · PMC8395227 · W3188140540
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Abstract

Endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent chronic gynecological disease, is characterized by a systemic inflammation that affects circulating red blood cells (RBC), by reducing anti-oxidant defenses. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of licorice intake to protect RBCs from dapsone hydroxylamine (DDS-NHOH), a harmful metabolite of dapsone, commonly used in the treatment of many diseases. A control group (CG, n = 12) and a patient group (PG, n = 18) were treated with licorice extract (25 mg/day), for a week. Blood samples before (T0) and after (T1) treatment were analyzed for: i) band 3 tyrosine phosphorylation and high molecular weight aggregates; and ii) glutathionylation and carbonic anhydrase activity, in the presence or absence of adjunctive oxidative stress induced by DDS-NHOH. Results were correlated with plasma glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) concentrations, measured by HPLC–MS. Results showed that licorice intake decreased the level of DDS-NHOH-related oxidative alterations in RBCs, and the reduction was directly correlated with plasma GA concentration. In conclusion, in PG, the inability to counteract oxidative stress is a serious concern in the evaluation of therapeutic approaches. GA, by protecting RBC from oxidative assault, as in dapsone therapy, might be considered as a new potential tool for preventing further switching into severe endometriosis.

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Anti-Infective Agents Dapsone Endometriosis Glycyrrhiza Glycyrrhiza Plant Extracts Protective Agents Adult Anti-Infective Agents Antioxidants Antioxidants Dapsone Endometriosis Endometriosis Erythrocytes Erythrocytes Female Humans Oxidative Stress Oxidative Stress

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