Redox cycling and increased oxygen utilization contribute to diquat-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase

Diquat and paraquat are nonspecific defoliants that induce toxicity in many organs including the lung, liver, kidney, and brain. This toxicity is thought to be due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An important pathway leading to ROS production by these compounds is redox cycling. In this study, diquat and paraquat redox cycling was characterized using human recombinant NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, rat liver microsomes, and...