Umbelliferone attenuates gentamicin-induced renal toxicity by suppression of TLR-4/NF-κB-p65/NLRP-3 and JAK1/STAT-3 signaling pathways

Nephrotoxicity is the most common adverse effect of gentamicin (GNT). This study aimed to investigate the possible nephroprotective effect of umbelliferone (UMB), against GNT-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were allocated into the control group; UMB group (50 mg/kg/day, P.O. for 15 days); GNT group (100 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 8 days); and GNT + UMB group. By the end of the experimental period, serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid as well as urine KIM-1 and urine albumin/creatinine ratio were evaluated to estimate kidney function. Moreover, tissue samples were collected for assessment of ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, TLR-4, p38 MAPK, NF-κB-p65, NLRP-3, IkBα, TNF-α, IL-1β, JAK1, STAT-3, p-STAT, and cleaved caspase-3. In support, the histopathological examination of renal tissues was performed. UMB improves kidney function through regulation of renal serum biomarkers, with alleviations of histological abrasions induced by GNT. Besides, UMB downregulates renal protein expressions of ERK1/ERK2, TLR-4, and p38MAPK, with subsequent suppression of NF-κB-p65/NLRP-3 inflammasome and JAK1/STAT-3 pathways as well as cleaved caspase-3. In parallel, UMB induced IkBα upregulation. Collectively, UMB markedly amended all GNT-induced renal changes. These nephroprotective outcomes could be attributed to its ability to impede TLR-4/NF-κB-p65/NLRP-3 inflammasome and JAK1/STAT-3 pathways activation, as well as to its anti-inflammatory property.

Hepatoprotective effect of rebamipide against methotrexate-induced hepatic intoxication: role of Nrf2/GSK-3β, NF-κβ-p65/JAK1/STAT3, and PUMA/Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathways

OBJECTIVES

The fact that methotrexate (MTX) is hepatotoxic is an important reason to limit its clinical use. Rebamipide (REB) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is useful for the treatment of gastro-duodenal ulcers. This study investigated the impact and protective mechanisms of REB against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals were divided into four groups of six rats each: a control group, REB group (REB 100 mg/kg/day, orally), MTX control group (20 mg/kg, single i.p.), and MTX + REB group.

RESULTS

The administration of MTX induced marked hepatic injury in the form of hepatocyte inflammatory swelling, degeneration, apoptosis, and focal necrosis. In parallel, our biochemical investigations revealed a marked hepatic dysfunction associated with the disturbance of the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the group treated with only MTX. Moreover, MTX led to the down-regulation of the hepatic Nrf2 and Bcl-2 expressions along with a marked elevation in the hepatic NF-κβ-p65, GSK-3β, JAK1, STAT3, PUMA, and Bax expressions. On the other hand, co-treatment with REB significantly ameliorated the aforementioned histopathological, biochemical, and molecular defects caused by MTX treatment.

CONCLUSION

the outcomes of the present study showed REB's ability to protect from hepatic injury induced by MTX, possibly through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. These effects could be attributed to REB's ability to modulate, at least in part, the Nrf2/GSK-3β,NF-κβ-p65/JAK1/STAT3, and PUMA/Bax/Bcl-2signaling pathways.

Ursodeoxycholic acid abrogates gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats: Role of NF-κB-p65/TNF-α, Bax/Bcl-xl/Caspase-3, and eNOS/iNOS pathways

AIM

The present study focused on the possible underlying protective mechanisms of UDCA against GNT-induced hepatic injury.

METHODS

For achieving this goal, adult male rats were allocated into 4 groups: normal control (received vehicle), GNT (100 mg/kg, i.p. for 8 days), UDCA (60 mg/kg, P.O. for 15 days), and GNT + UDCA (received UDCA for 15 days and GNT started from the 7th day and lasted for 8 days).

RESULTS

The results revealed that UDCA significantly improved GNT-induced hepatic injury, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory response. Interestingly, UDCA inhibited apoptosis by marked down-regulation of the Bax gene, Caspase-3, and cleaved Caspase-3 protein expressions while the level of Bcl-xL gene significantly increased. Moreover, UDCA strongly inhibited the inflammatory response through the down-regulation of both NF-κB-p65 and TNF-α accompanied by IL-10 elevation. Furthermore, the obtained results ended with the restored of mitochondria function that confirmed by electron microscopy. Histological analysis showed that UDCA remarkably ameliorated the histopathological changes induced by GNT.

SIGNIFICANCE

UDCA may be a promising agent that can be used to prevent hepatotoxicity observed in GNT treatment. This effect could be attributed to, at least in part, the ability of UDCA to modulate NF-κB-p65/TNF-α, Bax/Bcl-xl/Caspase-3, and eNOS/iNOS signaling pathways.

Diosmin enhances the anti-angiogenic activity of sildenafil and pentoxifylline against hepatopulmonary syndrome via regulation of TNF-α/VEGF, IGF-1/PI3K/AKT, and FGF-1/ANG-2 signaling pathways

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a severe complication of hepatic cirrhosis, which is characterized by hypoxia, intrapulmonary vasodilation, inflammation, and angiogenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of diosmin (DS) on selected phosphodiesterase inhibitors against chronic bile duct ligation (CBDL)-induced HPS. Experimentally, Wistar Albino rats were used and HPS was induced by CBDL for 28 days. DS (100 mg/kg, daily, P.O.), sildenafil (Sild; 10 mg/kg, twice daily, P.O.), and pentoxifylline (PTX; 50 mg/kg, daily, P.O.) were evaluated either alone or in combinations for their anti-angiogenic activity. CBDL significantly altered oxidative stress biomarkers and up-regulated pulmonary mRNA expressions of VEGF, IGF-1, ET-1, iNOS, eNOS, and ANG-2 as well as the protein expressions of vWF, FGF-1, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, TGF-β, HYP, MPO activity and circulating TNF-α. Treatment with DS, Sild, PTX, and their combinations significantly attenuated molecular and cellular changes due to CBDL. Improvement of histopathological changes was also observed after drug treatment which further supported our results. Furthermore, DS combination with Sild or PTX exhibited an improvement in HPS in comparison to each drug alone. Collectively, DS can augment the anti-angiogenic activity of Sild and PTX during HPS through regulation of TNF-α/VEGF, IGF-1/PI3K/AKT, and FGF-1/ANG-2 signaling pathways.

Coenzyme Q10 protects hepatocytes from ischemia reperfusion-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress via regulation of Bax/Bcl-2/PUMA and Nrf-2/FOXO-3/Sirt-1 signaling pathways

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and regarded as a strong anti-oxidant agent. In this study, we focused on the mechanistic insights involved in the hepato-protective effects of CoQ₁₀ against hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Our results revealed that CoQ₁₀ significantly improved hepatic dysfunctions and oxidative stress caused by IR injury. Interestingly, as compared to IR subjected rat, CoQ₁₀ inhibited apoptosis by marked down-regulation of both Bax and PUMA genes while the level of Bcl-2 gene was significantly increased. Moreover, CoQ₁₀ up-regulated PI3K, Akt and mTOR protein expressions while it inhibited the expression of both GSK-3β and β-catenin. Additionally, CoQ₁₀ restored oxidant/antioxidant balance via marked activated Nrf-2 protein as well as up-regulation of both Sirt-1 and FOXO-3 genes. Moreover, CoQ₁₀ strongly inhibited inflammatory response through down-regulation of NF-κB-p65 and decrease both JAK1 and STAT-3 protein expressions with a subsequent modulating circulating inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, histopathological analysis showed that CoQ₁₀ remarkably ameliorated the histopathological damage induced by IR injury. Taken together, our results suggested and proved that CoQ₁₀ provided a hepato-protection against hepatic IR injury via inhibition of apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and their closed related pathways.

Reno-protective effects of ursodeoxycholic acid against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity through modulation of NF-κB, eNOS and caspase-3 expressions

Gentamicin (GNT) is a potent aminoglycoside antibiotic widely used to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. We aim to investigate the potential protective effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) against GNT-induced nephrotoxicity. In this study, 24 male Wistar rats were used and randomly divided into four groups of six animals each. Control group received 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose orally for 15 days, GNT group received GNT 100 mg/kg/day i.p. for 8 days, UDCA group received UDCA orally for 15 consecutive days at a dose of 60 mg/kg/day suspended in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose and UDCA-pretreated group received UDCA orally for 7 days then co-administered with GNT i.p. for 8 days at the same fore-mentioned doses. Serum levels of kidney function parameters (urea, creatinine, uric acid and albumin) were measured. Renal tissues were used to evaluate oxidative stress markers; malonaldehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and the anti-oxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) mRNA levels. Immunohistochemical expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and caspase-3 and histological and ultrastructural examination were performed. Treatment with GNT increased the serum levels of renal function parameters and renal MDA, NF-κB and KIM-1 mRNA levels, while it decreased GSH and SOD activities. Marked immunohistochemical expression of caspase-3 was observed after GNT administration while it decreased eNOS expression. Histological and ultrastructural alterations were also evident in renal corpuscles and tubules. In contrast, pretreatment with UDCA reversed changes caused by GNT administration. These results suggest that UDCA ameliorates GNT-induced kidney injury via inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.