Apoptotic insults to human HepG2 cells induced by S-(+)-ketamine occurs through activation of a Bax-mitochondria-caspase protease pathway

This study shows that S-(+)-ketamine can induce apoptotic insults to human HepG2 cells via a Bax-mitochondria-caspase protease pathway. Thus, we suggest that S-(+)-ketamine at a clinically relevant or an abused concentration may induce liver dysfunction possibly due to its toxicity to hepatocytes.