IMPACT OF GENTAMICIN ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES ACTIVITY IN HEMn-DP CELLS.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, including gentamicin, are widely used clinically in treatment of bacterial infections. Unfortunately, their side effects, especially nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity remain a problem. It is known that aminoglycoside antibiotics bind well to melanin biopolymer, but the relation between their affinity to melanin and ototoxicity is not well documented. The aim of this work was to examine the impact of gentamicin on antioxidant enzymes activity in cultured dark pigmented normal human melanocytes (HEMn-DP). The WST-1 assay was used to detect gentamicin cytotoxic effect. The analyzed antibiotic induced concentration-dependent loss in melanocytes viability. The value of EC50 was found to be 7.5 mM. Significant changes in the cellular antioxidant enzymes: SOD, CAT and GPx were stated in melanocytes exposed to gentamicin, what may indicate the depletion of antioxidant defense system. It is concluded, that the results obtained in vitro may explain a potential role of melanocytes and melanin in the causative mechanisms of aminoglycosides ototoxic effects in vivo.