Although tamoxifen can trigger steatohepatitis, the mechanism of steatosis is unclear. We hypothesized that this DNA-intercalating, cationic amphiphilic drug could accumulate within mitochondria to impair fatty acid oxidation, respiration, and mitochondrial DNA relaxation and synthesis. We studied the in vitro effects of tamoxifen on topoisomerases and mouse liver mitochondria and its in vivo hepatic effects in mice treated for 1 to 28 days with a daily dose of tamoxifen reproducing the plasma concentrations observed in humans. In vitro, tamoxifen inhibited topoisomerase-mediated plasmid DNA relaxation. It accumulated 40-fold inside mitochondria and inhibited both respiration and fatty acid oxidation. In vivo, a single dose of tamoxifen inhibited palmitic acid oxidation and hepatic lipoprotein secretion. Tamoxifen administration also decreased mitochondrial DNA synthesis and progressively depleted hepatic mitochondrial DNA, down to 40% of control values at 28 days. The decrease in mitochondrial DNA-encoded respiratory complexes sensitized mitochondria to the inhibitory effects of tamoxifen on mitochondrial respiration. Hepatic steatosis was absent at 5 days, mild at 12 days, and moderate at 28 days. The fatty acid synthase protein was normally expressed at 12 days but was decreased by 52% at 28 days. In conclusion, tamoxifen decreases hepatic triglyceride secretion, and it accumulates electrophoretically in mitochondria, where it impairs ␤-oxidation and respiration. Tamoxifen also inhibits topoisomerases and mitochondrial DNA synthesis and progressively depletes hepatic mitochondrial DNA in vivo. These combined effects could decrease fat removal from the liver, thus causing hepatic steatosis despite a secondary down-regulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase expression.

Alcohol consumption increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which can damage mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and alter mitochondrial function. To test whether manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) modulates acute alcohol-induced mitochondrial alterations, transgenic MnSOD-overexpressing (MnSOD ϩϩϩ ) mice, heterozygous knockout (MnSOD ϩ/Ϫ ) mice, and wild-type (WT) littermates were sacrificed 2 or 24 h after intragastric ethanol administration (5 g/kg). Alcohol administration further increased MnSOD activity in MnSOD ϩϩϩ mice, but further decreased it in MnSOD ϩ/Ϫ mice. In WT mice, alcohol administration transiently increased mitochondrial ROS formation, decreased mitochondrial glutathione, depleted and damaged mtDNA, and decreased complex I and V activities; alcohol durably increased inducible nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) expression, plasma nitrites/nitrates, and the nitration of tyrosine residues in complex V proteins. These effects were prevented in MnSOD ϩϩϩ mice and prolonged in MnSOD ϩ/Ϫ mice. In alcoholized WT or MnSOD ϩ/Ϫ mice, mtDNA depletion and the nitration of tyrosine residues in complex I and V proteins were prevented or attenuated by cotreatment with tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl), a superoxide scavenger; N

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