Swimming exercise in combination with garlic extract administration as a therapy against doxorubicin-induced hepatic, heart and renal toxicity to rats

Cellular Mechanisms Mediating Exercise-Induced Protection against Cardiotoxic Anthracycline Cancer Therapy

Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin are widely used chemotherapy drugs. A common side effect of anthracycline therapy is cardiotoxicity, which can compromise heart function and lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Dexrazoxane and heart failure medications (i.e., beta blockers and drugs targeting the renin-angiotensin system) are prescribed for the primary prevention of cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity and for the management of cardiac dysfunction and symptoms if they arise during chemotherapy. However, there is a clear need for new therapies to combat the cardiotoxic effects of cancer drugs. Exercise is a cardioprotective stimulus that has recently been shown to improve heart function and prevent functional disability in breast cancer patients undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy. Evidence from preclinical studies supports the use of exercise training to prevent or attenuate the damaging effects of anthracyclines on the cardiovascular system. In this review, we summarise findings from experimental models which provide insight into cellular mechanisms by which exercise may protect the heart from anthracycline-mediated damage, and identify knowledge gaps that require further investigation. Improved understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise protects the heart from anthracyclines may lead to the development of novel therapies to treat cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity.

Swimming exercise reduces oxidative stress and liver damage indices of male rats exposed to electromagnetic radiation

OBJECTIVES

Hepatic damage caused by oxidative stress is one of the problems associated with the emission of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). In this study, the effects of swimming exercise (SE) on oxidative stress and liver cell damage caused by EMR emission in rats were investigated.

METHODS

Thirty-two rats (8 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups, including control (C), EMR, SE, and EMR + SE. During four weeks, the animals engaged in SE (30 min/session, 5session/week) and were also exposed to EMR (4 h/day, seven days/week) emission from a Wi-Fi _2.45GHZ router. The liver and blood samples were collected at 48 h after completing four weeks of SE to assess histopathological damage, oxidative stress, and liver enzymes.

KEY FINDINGS

Tissue sections showed severe liver damage in the EMR group compared to the C group, while the SE attenuated the liver damage. In the EMR group, compared to the C, SE and EMR + SE groups, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decreased significantly, and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) increased significantly (P < 0.05). Swimming exercise in the SE and EMR + SE groups compared to EMR led to a significant increase in the activity of SOD and CAT and a significant decrease in the concentration of MDA and liver enzymes (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study findings showed that the SE is beneficial in attenuating the harmful effects of RF-EMR emitted from the Wi-Fi on the liver.

Efficacy of Physical Exercise to Offset Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Preclinical Studies

Background

Physical exercise is an intervention that might protect against doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity. In this meta‐analysis and systematic review, we aimed to estimate the effect of exercise on doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity and to evaluate mechanisms underlying exercise‐mediated cardioprotection using (pre)clinical evidence.

Methods and Results

We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases. Cochrane's and Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk‐of‐bias tools were used to assess the validity of human and animal studies, respectively. Cardiotoxicity outcomes reported by ≥3 studies were pooled and structured around the type of exercise intervention. Forty articles were included, of which 3 were clinical studies. Overall, in humans (sample sizes ranging from 24 to 61), results were indicative of exercise‐mediated cardioprotection, yet they were not sufficient to establish whether physical exercise protects against doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity. In animal studies (n=37), a pooled analysis demonstrated that forced exercise interventions significantly mitigated in vivo and ex vivo doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity compared with nonexercised controls. Similar yet slightly smaller effects were found for voluntary exercise interventions. We identified oxidative stress and related pathways, and less doxorubicin accumulation as mechanisms underlying exercise‐induced cardioprotection, of which the latter could act as an overarching mechanism.

Conclusions

Animal studies indicate that various exercise interventions can protect against doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity in rodents. Less doxorubicin accumulation in cardiac tissue could be a key underlying mechanism. Given the preclinical evidence and limited availability of clinical data, larger and methodologically rigorous clinical studies are needed to clarify the role of physical exercise in preventing cardiotoxicity in patients with cancer.

Registration

URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero; Unique identifier: CRD42019118218.