Amantadine mitigates the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of doxorubicin in SH-SY5Y cells and reduces its mutagenicity

Amantadine (AMA) is a useful drug in neuronal disorders, but few studies have been performed to access its toxicological profile. Conversely, doxorubicin (Dox) is a well-known antineoplastic drug that has shown neurotoxic effects leading to cognitive impairment. The aims of this study are to evaluate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects of AMA, as well as its possible protective actions against deleterious effects of Dox. The Salmonella/microsome assay was performed to assess mutagenicity while cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated in SH-SY5Y cells using MTT and comet assays. Possible modulating effects of AMA on the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity induced by Dox were evaluated through cotreatment procedures. Amantadine did not induce mutations in the Salmonella/microsome assay and decreased Dox-induced mutagenicity in the TA98 strain. AMA reduced cell viability and induced DNA damage in SH-SY5Y cells. In cotreatment with Dox, AMA attenuated the cytotoxicity of Dox and showed an antigenotoxic effect. In conclusion, AMA does not induce gene mutations, although it has shown a genotoxic effect. Furthermore, AMA decreases frameshift mutations induced by Dox as well as the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Dox in SH-SY5Y cells, suggesting that AMA can interfere with Dox mutagenic activity and attenuate its neurotoxic effects.