Deferoxamine-induced cytotoxicity in human neuronal cell lines: protection by free radical scavengers.

Deferoxamine (DFO) caused decreased viability of human neuronal tumor cells (SK-N-MC neuroblastoma and U-373 MG astrocytoma) in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of stoichiometric amounts of ferric ions did not decrease the cytotoxic effect of DFO on the neuroblastoma cells. However, the cotreatments with various antioxidants, hydroxyl radical scavengers or intracellular Ca2+ release blockers significantly protected against the effects of DFO. These results suggest that DFO-induced cytoxicity may be not due to chelating iron, but due to the production of hydroxyl radicals and that intracellular Ca2+ may play a role in the cytotoxic effects of DFO.