Insights into cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction in Caenorhabditis elegans

Cisplatin is the most common drug in first-line chemotherapy against solid tumors. We and others have previously used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to identify genetic factors influencing the sensitivity and resistance to cisplatin. In this study, we use C. elegans to explore cisplatin effects on mitochondrial functions and investigate cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity through a high-resolution system for evaluating locomotion.

Firstly, we report that a high-glucose diet sensitizes C. elegans to cisplatin at the physiological level and that mitochondrial CED-13 protects the cell from cisplatin-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, by assessing mitochondrial function with a Seahorse Analyzer, we observed a detrimental effect of cisplatin and glucose in mitochondrial respiration. Secondly, since catechol-O-methyltransferases (involved in dopamine degradation) are upregulated upon cisplatin exposure, we studied the protective role of dopamine against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity. To implement the use of the Tierpsy Tracker system for measuring neurotoxicity, we showed that abnormal displacements and body postures in cat-2 mutants, which have the dopamine synthesis disrupted, can be rescued by adding dopamine. Then, we demonstrated that dopamine treatment protects from the dose-dependent neurotoxicity caused by cisplatin.