Figure 6.

Deferasirox-induced mitochondrial swelling is caused by the free drug and is reversible. (a) In OK cells loaded with TMRM, addition of Iron (III) (200 µM) simultaneously with DFX (200 µM) prevented acute mitochondrial swelling (scale = 10 µm). (b) Pre-treatment for 5 minutes with albumin (200 µM) also prevented mitochondrial swelling, and preserved cell viability after 24 hours treatment with DFX (n = 3, mean ± SEM, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, ****p < 0.0001, scale = 10 µm). (c) Addition of Iron (III) (200 µM) 10 minutes post DFX (200 µM) caused reversal of mitochondrial swelling in TMRM loaded cells (scale = 10 µm). (d) Reversibility of mitochondrial swelling with Iron (III) (200 µM) was also observed in kidney cortex slices loaded with TMRM (scale = 10 µm).