Mitochondrial Effects of Triarylmethane Dyes

The mitochondrial effects of submicromolar concentrations of six triarylmethane dyes, withpotential applications in antioncotic photodynamic therapy, were studied. All dyes promotedan inhibition of glutamate or succinate-supported respiration in uncoupled mitochondria, in amanner stimulated photodynamically. No inhibition of N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine(TMPD) supported respiration was observed, indicating that these dyes do not affectmitochondrial complex IV. When mitochondria were energized with TMPD in the absence ofan uncoupler, treatment with victoria blue R, B, or BO, promoted a dissipation of mitochondrialmembrane potential and increase of respiratory rates, compatible with mitochondrialuncoupling. This effect was observed even in the dark, and was not prevented by EGTA, Mg²⁺ orcyclosporin A, suggesting that it is promoted by a direct effect of the dye on inner mitochondrialmembrane permeability to protons. Indeed, victoria blue R, B, and BO promoted swellingof valinomycin-treated mitochondria incubated in a hyposmotic K⁺-acetate-based medium,confirming that these dyes act as classic protonophores such as FCCP. On the other hand, ethylviolet, crystal violet, and malachite green promoted a dissipation of mitochondrial membranepotential, accompanied by mitochondrial swelling, which was prevented by EGTA, Mg²⁺, andcyclosporin A, demonstrating that these drugs induce mitochondrial permeability transition.This mitochondrial permeabilization was followed by respiratory inhibition, attributable tocytochrome c release, and was caused by the oxidation of NAD(P)H promoted by these drugs.