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Antibiotic Liver Harm: Location Matters More Than Rupture
27 Feb
Summary
- Antibiotic persistence on cell surface causes more liver harm than rupture.
- IIT Bombay study reveals drug interaction site predicts liver toxicity.
- New method may predict drug toxicity risks before clinical trials.
Researchers at IIT Bombay have uncovered crucial insights into how antibiotics can harm the liver. The study, led by Prof Ashutosh Kumar and Prof Vetriselvan Subramaniyan, reveals that antibiotic toxicity is linked to where and how long a drug interacts with liver cell membranes, not just its disruptive power. This finding could transform drug safety assessments.
Comparing Teicoplanin and Oritavancin, antibiotics used for serious infections, the study found Teicoplanin's persistence on the cell surface caused greater liver damage in rat models. Oritavancin, while more disruptive, burrowed deeper into membranes with less lasting impact.
This new understanding shifts the focus from mere chemical potency to the biophysical positioning and duration of drug-membrane interactions. Persistent stress on the membrane surface may interfere with cellular communication, leading to chronic injury.
The research offers a promising new approach for drug development. By analyzing drug-membrane interactions, scientists may predict toxicity earlier, leading to the design of gentler, safer compounds and enhancing standard safety checks.
