Reactive Oxygen Radical Scavengers22Saving the Cells

摘要

THIS wet and cold season is the ideal time to develop a cold or influenza and to relieve symptoms with a mucolytic agent. N-acetylcysteine, also known as acetylcysteine or N-acetyl-Lcysteine (NAC), is a pharmaceutical drug used mainly as a mucolytic agent. Its chemical name is (R)-2-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid. NAC is widely used as a mucolytic agent although its efficacy is highly disputed. Several other potential fields of therapeutic application such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, AIDS, and influenza are under discussion. NAC was also suggested as an antidote in cases of metallic intoxication and radioactive irradiation. The multitude of potentially beneficial effects are possibly related to the apoptosis alternating activities of this reactive oxygen species scavenger. However, the management of paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose is among the most prominent therapeutical applications. Now, Lohrke and colleagues (this issue) report that NAC affects the survival of luteal cells. The authors found that cell survival markedly decreases following NAC treatment in mature corpus luteum-derived luteal cells but not in luteal cells from the developing gland.