Upregulation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha by fenofibrate in induced testicular ischemia reperfusion

Pathophysiology and management of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury: Lessons from animal models

Testicular torsion is a urological emergency that involves the twisting of the spermatic cord along its course. Compelling pieces of evidence have implicated oxidative stress-sensitive signaling in pathogenesis of testicular I/R injury. Although, surgical detorsion is the mainstay management; blockade of the pathways involved in the pathogenesis may improve the surgical outcome. Experimental studies using various testicular I/R models have been reported in a bid to explore the mechanisms associated with testicular I/R and evaluate the benefits of potential therapeutic measures; however, most are limited by their shortcomings. Thus, this review was intended to describe the details of the available testicular I/R models as well as their merits and drawbacks, the pathophysiological basis and consequences of testicular I/R, and the pharmacological agents that have being proposed to confer testicular benefits against testicular I/R. This provides an understanding of the pathophysiological events and available models used in studying testicular I/R. In addition, this research provides evidence-based molecules with therapeutic potentials as well as their mechanisms of action in testicular I/R.

Levocabastine ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity in Swiss albino mice: Targeting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway

Cyclophosphamide (CP), although a potent anti-cancer drug, causes cardiotoxicity as a side effect that limits its use. Hence, a specific medicine that can lower cardiotoxicity and be utilised as an adjuvant in cancer treatment is very much needed. In this light, we intended to assess the protective potential of levocabastine (LEV) on CP-induced cardiotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. Mice were administered LEV (50 and 100 μg/kg, i.p.) daily for 14 days and CP at 200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally once on the 7th day. On the 15th day, mice were weighed, blood withdrawn then sacrificed and hearts were removed to estimate various biochemical and histopathological parameters. CP 200 mg/kg significantly increased cardiac troponin T, LDH, CK-MB, interleukin-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TBARS, nitrite, and decreased CAT, GSH, and SOD levels, thus, manifested cardiac damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and nitrative stress, cumulatively causing cardiotoxicity. CP also elevated the expression of various markers including cleaved caspase-3, NF-κB, TLR4, NLRP3, and fibrotic lesions in cardiac tissues, whereas decreased hematological parameters (RBCs, platelets, and Hb) to confirm cardiotoxicity. LEV and fenofibrate (FF) treatment reversed these changes towards normal and showed a significant protective effect against CP. The results showed the protective role of LEV in restoring CP-induced cardiotoxicity in terms of inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, cardiac injury and histopathological damage. Thus, levocabastine can be used as an adjuvant to cyclophosphamide in cancer treatment but a thorough study with various animal cancer models is further needed to establish the fact.

Fenofibrate and Diosmetin in a rat model of testicular toxicity: New insight on their protective mechanism through PPAR-α/NRF-2/HO-1 signaling pathway

One of the most significant chemotherapeutic side effects of cisplatin (Cis) that limits its use and efficacy is testicular toxicity. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the possible ameliorative effect of Fenofibrate (Fen), Diosmetin (D), and their combination against cis-mediated testicular damage. Fifty-four adult male albino rats were randomly allocated into nine groups (6 rats each): Control group, Fen (100 mg/kg), D20 (20 mg/kg), D40 (40 mg/kg), Cis group (7 mg/kg), Cis +Fen group (7 mg/kg+100 mg/kg), Cis+D20 group (7 mg/kg+20 mg/kg), Cis+D40 group (7 mg/kg+40 mg/kg), Cis+Fen+D40 treated group (7 mg/kg+100 mg/kg+40 mg/kg). Relative testicular weight, epididymal sperm count and viability, serum testosterone level, testicular oxidative stress indices, mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), histopathological, and immunohistochemical alterations were assessed. Our results revealed that cis administration induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage as indicated by a substantial reduction in relative testicular weight, sperm parameters, serum testosterone levels, the antioxidant enzyme activity of catalase, and Johnson's histopathological score, PPAR-α/NRF-2/HO-1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoexpression with marked increment in malondialdehyde (MDA), Cosentino's score, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κβ p65), interleukin (IL)- 1β and caspase 3 in testicular tissue. Interestingly, Fen and D diminished the harmful effects of cis on testes via upregulation of the antioxidant activities and downregulation of lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, and inflammation. Moreover, the combination therapy Fen/D40 also exhibited a more pronounced enhancement of previous markers than either treatment alone. In conclusion, because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, cotreatment with Fen or D or their combination could be beneficial in reducing the harmful impacts of cis on testicular tissue, particularly in patients that receive cis chemotherapy.

Effect of sunitinib on testicular oxidative and proinflammatory damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to biochemically and histopathologically investigate the effect of sunitinib on oxidative testicular damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

MATERIAL-METHOD

Experimental animals were divided into three groups of six rats each: testicular torsion-detorsion (TTD), sunitinib+testicular torsion-detorsion (STD), and sham control (SC). Sunitinib (25mg/kg) was administered orally to the STD group by gavage. Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) was administered orally to the TTD and control groups as the solvent. One hour after administration of sunitinib and 0.9% NaCl, all animal groups were done torsion-detorsion. Then, all the rats were killed by high-dose anesthesia, and their testicles were removed. Biochemical and histopathological examinations were performed on the removed testicular tissues.

RESULTS

Malondialdehyde; it was observed that the results in the STD group were close to those of the SC group and statistically significant lower compared to the TTD group (p=0.001). The glutathione values were statistically significantly higher in the STD group compared to the TTD group (p<0.001). Nuclear factor kappa B values, revealing a statistically significant difference between the TTD and STD groups (p<0.001). The TNF-α levels were measured and indicating that the results of the STD group were statistically significantly lower than those of the TTD group (p<0.001). Histopathologically, animal tissues given sunitinib were observed to resemble normal tissues.

CONCLUSION

Sunitinib was shown to prevent histopathological changes in testicular tissue against ischemia/reperfusion damage.

Dose dependent effect of cilostazol in induced testicular ischemia reperfusion via modulation of HIF/VEGF and cAMP/SIRT1 pathways

Twisting of the spermatic cord is a common dangerous health problem that may be accompanied with testicular necrosis and infertility. Cilostazol (CLZ) is a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3A inhibitor used for treatment of intermittent claudication. It has a great role in myocardial, spinal cord and hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion. However, till now, there are no researches evaluating its role in testicular ischaemia/reperfusion (TIR). The current work studies its capability to improve TIR induced injury with more concentration on the mechanisms involved in such effect. Four groups of animals were included: sham, TIR induced group, TIR plus CLZ low dose (10 mg/kg), TIR plus CLZ high dose (30 mg/kg). Our results proved that TIR had significant decrease of the serum ELISA of testosterone, marked disturbances in oxidative stress evaluated parameters as malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ELISA measurement of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) inflammatory mediators, apoptotic marker (caspase3) using western blotting, immunohistochemistry of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). TIR reduced the protective agents as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) by ELISA method with marked germinal cell apoptosis. The biochemical results were confirmed by the histopathological findings that showed marked decrease in both Johnsen's score and Cosentino's score. However, treatment with CLZ significantly reversed the profound TIR damaging effects, on the basis of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities with recuperation of the testicular vascularity. Modulation of HIF/VEGF and cAMP/SIRT1 pathways showed a great role in mediating such effect.

The IL-6/STAT Signaling Pathway and PPARα Are Involved in Mediating the Dose-Dependent Cardioprotective Effects of Fenofibrate in 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiotoxicity

PURPOSE

The cardiotoxicity of anticancer drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5FU) is a major complication that challenges their clinical usefulness. Thus there is a critical need to find new protective drugs to defend against these harmful side effects. Up to now, there have been no studies evaluating the possible cardioprotective effects of fenofibrate (FEN) in 5FU-induced cardiotoxicity. Therefore, we aimed in the current model to evaluate such an effect of FEN and to explore different mechanisms mediating it.

METHODS

We used FEN (25, 50, 100 mg/kg/day) administered orally for 7 days with induction of cardiotoxicity by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 5FU (150 mg/kg) on the fifth day.

RESULTS

The current study showed that 5FU succeeded in inducing cardiotoxicity, manifested by significantly elevated levels of cardiac enzymes, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4), and caspase-3. Furthermore, the 5FU group showed toxic histopathological changes including marked cardiac damage and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) expression. FEN reversed 5FU-induced cardiotoxicity by various mechanisms including upregulation of PPARα, inhibition of the IL-6/STAT signaling pathway, and anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant properties.

CONCLUSION

FEN demonstrated a significant cardioprotective effect against 5FU-induced cardiac damage.

The protective effect of fenofibrate, triptorelin, and their combination against premature ovarian failure in rats

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapy alkylating agent that causes a lot of side effects including premature ovarian failure (POF). This study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effect of fenofibrate (FEN) in CP-induced POF. Rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: negative control, CP, triptorelin (TRI)-treated, FEN (FEN)-treated, and FEN + TRI-treated. Histological study, collagen area fraction, and immunoexpression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated. Also, estrogen, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NOx), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured. CP significantly reduced ovarian follicle count, as compared with the control group (1.00 ± 0.76 versus 7.75 ± 1.83, respectively). Meanwhile, FEN, either solely or in combination with TRI, significantly increased ovarian follicle count, as compared with the CP group (3.88 ± 0.83 and 5.75 ± 1.39, respectively). As compared with the control group, CP increased the levels of MDA, NOx, IL-10, TNF-α, FSH, LH, and collagen area fraction; however, levels of GSH, SOD, VEGF, AMH, estrogen, and PCNA immunoexpression were reduced with CP. Administration of FEN either solely or in combination with TRI showed significant improvement in all the parameters previously mentioned. FEN can protect the ovary from CP-induced side effects possibly through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

Caloric restriction alleviates aging-related fibrosis of kidney through downregulation of miR-21 in extracellular vesicles

Glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis occur with the aging kidney. In this study, we examined the expression of miR-21, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPARα), hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF-1α) in the kidney of 3-month-old rats fed ad libitum (YAL), 24-month-old rats fed ad libitum (OAL) and 24-month-old rats subjected to a 70% calorie-restricted diet for 8 months (OCR). We found long-term caloric restriction (CR) ameliorated aging and aging-related fibrosis. CR ameliorated the increment of miR-21 and HIF-1α, as well as the decrement of PPARα in old ad libitum group. Human proximal tubular cells (HPTCs) presented phenotypes of senescence and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) under high-glucose conditions, in which senescence occurred earlier than EMT. Senescent cells secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) which contained miR-21 into the recipient cells. Inhibiting miR-21 of donor cells prevented the occurrence of EMT in recipient cells. In addition, miR-21 induced EMT through targeting PPARα protein and consequently enhancing HIF-1α expression, although other pathways cannot be ruled out. These findings demonstrated that miR-21-containing EVs derived from the senescent cells could facilitate EMT of HPTCs via PPARα-HIF-1α signaling pathway. Long-term caloric restriction and caloric restriction mimetics alleviated aging-related-fibrosis of kidney through downregulation of miR-21.

Investigation of the protective role of chrysin within the framework of oxidative and inflammatory markers in experimental testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of chrysin on testicular torsion and detorsion damage in rats in terms of biochemistry, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The study was performed on Wistar albino rats between 250 g and 300 g. A total of 40 rats were used. Five groups were created with eight rats in each group. Group 1 was the control group, and no torsion procedure was performed. In Group 2, 2 hr of torsion and 2 hr of detorsion were applied. In Group 3, 2 hr of torsion and 24 hr of detorsion were applied. In Group 4, 2 hr of torsion, 2 hr of detorsion and 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal chrysin were applied. In Group 5, 2 hr of torsion, 24 hr of detorsion and 50 mg/kg of chrysin were applied. In the torsion/detorsion groups, the study determined decreases in glutathione and testosterone levels, increases in tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels, and increases in expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8. Chrysin application reduced malondialdehyde, tumour necrosis factor-α, caspase-3 and caspase-8 expression levels. We can say that chrysin can be used to reduce damage in cases of testicular ischaemia/reperfusion. For more reliable results, further clinical trials are recommended.

Fenofibrate ameliorates testicular damage in rats with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes: role of HO-1 and p38 MAPK

BACKGROUND

Since diabetes mellitus type-1 (DM-1) induces testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage with finally an ultimate male infertility, and as fenofibrate (FEN) plays an important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of FEN on diabetes-induced reproductive damage and clarifying the underlying related mechanisms.

METHODS

DM-1 was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). FEN (100 mg/kg/day, orally) was administrated to diabetic rats for 4 weeks. Testicular damage was detected by estimation of both testicular and body weights, assessment of serum testosterone, testicular oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels) and testicular oxidant defenses (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and hemeoxygenase-1). Expressions of the inflammatory markers (inducible nitric oxide synthase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 and apoptotic marker (caspase-3) were evaluated in testicular tissue. Our results were confirmed by histopathological examination of testicular tissues.

RESULTS

Diabetic testicular damage was proved by both biochemical and histopathological examinations. FEN treatment reversed diabetic testicular damage; normalized the serum testosterone level, improved anti-oxidative capacity, ameliorated the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in testicular tissue with the down regulation of p38 MAPK mediated-testicular apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

FEN treatment exerted a protective effect against streptozotocin-induced diabetic reproductive dysfunction not only through its powerful antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects, but also through its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect via down-regulation of testicular p38 MAPK expression in diabetic rats.

Sitagliptin protects male albino rats with testicular ischaemia/reperfusion damage: Modulation of VCAM-1 and VEGF-A

Twisting of the spermatic cord is considered a popular problem in the urological field, which may lead to testicular necrosis and male infertility. Sitagliptin, a glucose-lowering agent, proved to have a vindicatory function in myocardial and renal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R), but its role in testicular I/R has not yet been studied. The current work investigates its capability to recover the testicular I/R injury with shedding more light on the mechanism of its action. Four groups were used: sham, sham pretreated with sitagliptin, I/R and sitagliptin/I/R-pretreated groups. The outcomes proved that I/R significantly decreased the serum testosterone, with a major increase in oxidative, inflammatory and nitrosative stress, along with a reduction in testicular vascular endothelial growth factor-A level with marked germinal cell apoptosis. However, pretreatment with sitagliptin significantly reversed the profound testicular I/R damaging effects, on the basis of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities with the ability of recuperation of the testicular vascularity.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α Agonist and Its Target Nanog Cooperate to Induce Pluripotency

The pharmaceutical compounds that modulate pluripotent stem cell (PSC) identity and function are increasingly adopted to generate qualified PSCs and their derivatives, which have promising potential in regenerative medicine, in pursuit of more accuracy and safety and less cost. Here, we demonstrate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist as a novel enhancer of pluripotency acquisition and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation. We found that PPARα agonist, examined and selected Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -approved compound libraries, increase the expression of pluripotency-associated genes, such as Nanog, Nr5A2, Oct4, and Rex1, during the reprogramming process and facilitate iPSC generation by enhancing their reprogramming efficiency. A reprogramming-promoting effect of PPARα occurred via the upregulation of Nanog, which is essential for the induction and maintenance of pluripotency. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified putative peroxisome proliferator responsive elements (PPREs) located within the promoter region of the Nanog gene. We also determined that PPARα can activate Nanog transcription by specific binding to putative PPREs. Taken together, our findings suggest that PPARα is an important regulator of PSC pluripotency and reprogramming, and PPARα agonists can be used to improve PSC technology and regenerative medicine.

Role of PPAR-α agonist fenofibrate in the treatment of induced benign prostatic hyperplasia with dysplastic changes in rats

Nearly all men who reach average life expectancy have prostate disease. The most common is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) had protective effect in different models, but still, there are no studies explain its role in BPH. So that we investigated the effect of fenofibrate (FEN) on induced BPH by testosterone propionate (TP) (3 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks) subcutaneous injection followed by FEN (300 mg/kg/day) was given orally for 4 weeks. We measured prostate weights changes, prostatic tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum were determined. The mRNA gene expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), PPARα, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in prostatic tissue were also measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the histopathological changes and activated caspase3 immunoexpression were evaluated. Our results showed that TP succeeded in induction of BPH, which was detected by significant increase in prostate weights, prostatic tissue MDA, serum levels of DHT, PSA, and mRNA gene expression of PCNA but significant decrease in PPARα and GPx gene expression. Moreover, TAC in serum and SOD level in prostate tissue decreased. The histopathological examination showed typical changes of BPH with dysplastic changes with marked decrease in activated caspase3 immunoexpression indicating marked suppression of the apoptotic process. FEN significantly improved all disturbed parameters of BPH model. Moreover, there are no dysplastic changes with co-administration of FEN to BPH induced group.