Differential regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways by acetaminophen and its nonhepatotoxic regioisomer 3'-hydroxyacetanilide in TAMH cells

Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used analgesic and antipyretic that is considered to be relatively safe at recommended doses, is the leading cause of drug-induced liver failure in the United States. 3′-Hydroxyacetanilide (AMAP), a regioisomer of APAP, is useful as a comparative tool for studying APAP-induced toxicity because it is nontoxic relative to APAP. Transforming growth factor-alpha transgenic mouse hepatocytes were treated with both isomers to investigate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades in order to differentiate their toxicological outcomes. Posttranslational modifications of MAPK signaling were assessed using immunoblotting and Bioplex technology, whereas gene expression changes were measured using Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST arrays. APAP treatment led to higher levels of glutathione depletion at 6 and 24 h compared with AMAP in mitochondria. Glutathione depletion was preceded by increased levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation at 2 and 6 h after APAP treatment compared with AMAP, whereas AMAP treatment led to increased extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylation at 2 and 6 h compared with APAP. Furthermore, APAP treatment significantly upregulated jun oncogene (c-Jun) gene expression, which was confirmed by Western blotting for both the phosphorylated and the nonphosphorylated forms of c-Jun protein. Transfection with JNK siRNA attenuated APAP toxicity after 24 h, suggesting that higher levels of APAP-induced activation of JNK were related to higher rates of cell death. In summary, genomic regulation of MAPK-related transcription factors coupled with posttranslational activation of their upstream kinases is critical in differentiating the toxicities of APAP and AMAP.