Coenzyme Q10 coadministration with diclofenac augmented impaired renal function in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of Tessaria integrifolia Ruiz and Pav. on diclofenac-induced toxicity in rats

Background and Aim

Tessaria integrifolia Ruiz and Pav. (also known as "Pájaro bobo") is known for its medicinal properties, including antiulcer, antiasthmatic, leishmanicidal, antipyretic, antispasmodic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate its hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects using a rat model of diclofenac-induced toxicity.

Materials and Methods

We administered three different doses of the methanolic extract of T. integrifolia (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day orally) and compared them with the commercial medicine silymarin (100 mg/kg orally). The rats received the T. integrifolia extracts for 5 days, and on days 3 and 4, 1 h after receiving the extracts, diclofenac was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The animals were euthanized 48 h after the last diclofenac injection, and blood samples were obtained to measure biochemical parameters related to liver and kidney function, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, and urea. Kidney and liver tissues were preserved in 10% formaldehyde and sent for histopathological analysis.

Results

The results show that T. integrifolia has hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects. These effects are verified by the lower blood levels of ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine compared to the diclofenac group, which exhibited elevated biochemical parameters. In addition, histopathological analysis showed that the groups that received T. integrifolia did not display necrosis or infiltration, which were observed in the diclofenac group.

Conclusion

The methanolic extract of T. integrifolia has hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects, with the highest protective activity observed at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day.

Molecular mechanisms underlying the renal protective effects of coenzyme Q10 in acute kidney injury

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an endogenous antioxidant, has been reported frequently to exert an outstanding protective effect on multiple organ injury, including acute kidney injury (AKI). In this study, we aim to summarize all the current evidence of the protective action of CoQ10 against AKI as there are presently no relevant reviews in the literature. After a systematic search, 20 eligible studies, either clinical trials or experimental studies, were included and further reviewed. CoQ10 treatment exhibited a potent renal protective effect on various types of AKI, such as AKI induced by drugs (e.g., ochratoxin A, cisplatin, gentamicin, L-NAME, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), sepsis, contrast media, and ischemia–reperfusion injury. The renal protective role of CoQ10 against AKI might be mediated by the antiperoxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory potential of CoQ10. The molecular mechanisms for the protective effects of CoQ10 might be attributed to the regulation of multiple essential genes (e.g., caspase-3, p53, and PON1) and signaling cascades (e.g., Nrf2/HO-1 pathway). This review highlights that CoQ10 may be a potential strategy in the treatment of AKI.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals the toxic mechanism of diclofenac sodium on the kidney of broiler chicken

Diclofenac sodium (DS) is one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which exhibits potent toxicity to birds. To search the molecular mechanism of DS induced nephrotoxicity in broiler chicken, 20 apparently healthy 30-day old broiler chickens were separated randomly into two groups (n = 10): Group A was kept as control while DS was administered at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg body weight in group B through oral gavage. Kidney samples were collected, and the proteins were identified and quantified by iTRAQ. 434 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened, including 277 up-regulated DEPs and 157 down-regulated DEPs. The functional annotation and classification results indicated that DEPs were significantly enriched in apoptosis and metabolism-related pathways via GO and KEGG analysis. Compared with the control group, the most significant enrichment pathways are "ribosome", "metabolic pathways" and "protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum". Based on the proteomic results and relevant literature, some DEPs that potentially related to the toxicity of DS were screened. The mRNA transcript levels of these DEPs were characterized by qRT-PCR, and the results showed that Slc22a7, Gatm, Glud1, Agxt2 and Gldc were significantly down-regulated, while Gsl, Gpt2 and Asns were significantly up-regulated. We speculate that the toxic mechanism of DS to chicken might be that it induces kidney cell apoptosis, interferes with purine metabolism and inhibits the expression of OAT2. The current study provides a reference for elucidating the nephrotoxic mechanism of diclofenac sodium to broiler chicken from the molecular perspective.