Trientine dihydrochloride 250mg capsules

Triethylenetetramine (TETA) is a selective copper(II) chelator that works to promote urinary copper excretion.[L41730] It was shown to reduce excess body copper storage and ameliorate symptoms of Wilson’s disease. In rats with diabetes mellitus, intravenous administration of TETA led to a dose-dependent increase in urinary copper excretion.[A18803]

In preliminary studies, TETA was shown to ameliorate left ventricular hypertrophy in both human and animal subjects with diabetes. In animal models, TETA was also shown to reverse manifestations of diabetic nephropathy, including nephromegaly, renal fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, and albuminuria, without lowering hyperglycemia.[A18804] This finding may be explained by TETA chelating copper cations, which are pro-oxidant and activate pathways that produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause tissue injury.[A19335] TETA was shown to possess anti-angiogenesis properties, as copper is an essential element for angiogenesis in cancer cells. TETA was shown to inhibit telomerase, suggesting that it may exhibit an inhibitory effect or cytotoxicity on tumor growth. Based on these early findings, TETA has been studied for its anticancer effects.[A19333]