Protective Effect of Tunisian Red Seaweed (Corallina officinalis) Against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Protective Effects of Tunisian Orange Co-Product Extract and Oleuropein-Hesperidin Combination on Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial pneumonia that leads to acute lung damage, deterioration of lung function, and increased mortality risk. In this study, we investigated the effects of the orange coproduct extract (OCE) and the combination of pure hesperidin and oleuropein (HO) on an experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM) in Wistar rats. Rats were divided into six groups: the control group (G1), the BLM group (G2), three groups (G3, G4, G5) receiving a single dose of BLM combined with OCE extract at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, and group 6 (G6) receiving a single dose of BLM combined with HO: both pure major phenolic compounds of OCE (hesperidin at 50 mg/kg) and olive leaves (oleuropein at 2.5 mg/kg). Oxidative stress in lung tissues was investigated using catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) assays and the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Treatment with OCE and HO normalized the disturbance in oxidative markers' levels and showed a significant reduction in fibrosis score with no renal or hepatic toxic effects. In conclusion, OCE and HO exhibit antifibrotic effects on a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis.

Exosomes derived from adipose tissue-derived stem cells alleviated H2O2-induced oxidative stress and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by inhibition of the mir-486-3p/Sirt6/Smad signaling pathway

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is characterized by excessive collagen deposition and myofibroblasts activation. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and oxidative stress were pivotal in skin fibrosis process. Exosomes derived from adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC-Exo) have the potential to attenuate EndoMT and inhibit fibrosis. The study revealed reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were increased during EndoMT occurrence of dermal vasculature of HS. The morphology of endothelial cells exposure to H2O2, serving as an in vitro model of oxidative stress damage, transitioned from a cobblestone-like appearance to a spindle-like shape. Additionally, the levels of endothelial markers decreased in H2O2-treated endothelial cell, while the expression of fibrotic markers increased. Furthermore, H2O2 facilitated the accumulation of ROS, inhibited cell proliferation, retarded its migration and suppressed tube formation in endothelial cell. However, ADSC-Exo counteracted the biological effects induced by H2O2. Subsequently, miRNAs sequencing analysis revealed the significance of mir-486-3p in endothelial cell exposed to H2O2 and ADSC-Exo. Mir-486-3p overexpression enhanced the acceleration of EndoMT, its inhibitors represented the attenuation of EndoMT. Meanwhile, the target regulatory relationship was observed between mir-486-3p and Sirt6, whereby Sirt6 exerted its anti-EndoMT effect through Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Besides, our research had successfully demonstrated the impact of ADSC-Exo and mir-486-3p on animal models. These findings of our study collectively elucidated that ADSC-Exo effectively alleviated H2O2-induced ROS and EndoMT by inhibiting the mir-486-3p/Sirt6/Smad axis.

Phœnix dactylifera, L. seed oil alleviates Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and oxidative stress in Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most serious form of interstitial lung disease. We aimed to investigate the effect of Phœnix dactylifera, L. seed oil (DSO) on a murine model of IPF induced by bleomycin (BLM).

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were treated with a single intra-tracheal injection of BLM (4 mg/kg) and a daily intraperitoneal injection of DSO (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Our phytochemical results showed that DSO has an important antioxidant activity with a high content of polyphenols and flavonoids. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed a high amount of oleic and lauric acids and a large quantity of vitamins. Histological examination showed a significant reduction in fibrosis score and collagen bands in the group of rats treated with 75 mg/kg of DSO compared to the BLM group. DSO (75 mg/kg) reversed also the increase in catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while higher doses (150 and 300 mg/kg) are ineffective against the deleterious effects of BLM. We revealed also that DSO has no renal or hepatic cytotoxic effects.

CONCLUSION

DSO can play antioxidant and antifibrotic effects on rat models of pulmonary fibrosis at the lowest dose administered.