Effect of a novel oral active iron chelator: 1-(N-acetyl-6-aminohexyl)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridin-4-one (CM1) in iron-overloaded and non-overloaded mice

To evaluate efficacy and toxicity of a novel orally active bidentate iron chelator, 1-(N-acetyl-6-aminohexyl)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridin-4-one (CM1) in mice under normal and iron overload conditions. Wild type C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal and 0.2% (w/w) ferrocene-supplemented (Fe) diets, respectively for 240 d and orally given the CM1 (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) for 180 d. Blood iron profiles, hematological indices, liver enzymes and histopathology were determined. CM1 treatment lowered plasma levels of labile plasma iron and non-transferrin bound iron, but not ferritin in the Fe-fed mice. However, the treatment did not impact blood hemoglobin level, white blood cell and platelet numbers in both normal diet and Fe diet-fed mice. Interestingly, CM1 treatment did not markedly elevate plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the normal diet-fed mice but it tended to increase the levels of the liver enzymes slightly in the Fe-fed mice. Hematoxylin and eosin staining result showed no abnormal pathological changes in heart, liver and spleen tissues. It is clear that CM1 would not be toxic to bone marrow and liver cells under normal and iron-overload conditions.