Effect of a Low Dose of Carvedilol on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Urinary Toxicity in Rats—A Comparison with Mesna

Molecular Iodine Improves the Efficacy and Reduces the Side Effects of Metronomic Cyclophosphamide Treatment against Mammary Cancer Progression

Metronomic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (Cpp) has shown promising results in cancer protocols. These lower and prolonged doses have antiangiogenic, pro-cytotoxic, and moderate secondary effects. Molecular iodine (I2) reduces the viability of cancer cells and, with chemotherapeutic agents, activates the antitumoral immune response and diminishes side effects. The present work evaluates the adjuvant of oral I2 with Cpp using a murine model of mammary cancer. Female Sprague Dawley rats with 7,12-dimethylbenzantracene-induced tumors received Cpp intraperitoneal (50 and 70 mg/kg two times/week, iCpp50 and iCpp70) and oral (0.03%; 50 mg/Kg; oCpp50) doses. I2 (0.05%, 50 mg/100 mL) and oCpp50 were offered in drinking water for three weeks. iCpp70 was the most efficient antitumoral dose but generated severe body weight loss and hemorrhagic cystitis (HC). I2 prevented body weight loss, exhibited adjuvant actions with Cpp, decreasing tumor growth, and canceled HC mechanisms, including decreases in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Survivin expression. oCpp50 + I2 diminished angiogenic signals (CD34, vessel-length, and VEGF content) and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and increased cytotoxic (lymphocytic infiltration, CD8+ cells, Tbet, and interferon-gamma) and antioxidant markers (nuclear erythroid factor-2 and glutathione peroxidase). I2 enhances the effectiveness of oCpp, making it a compelling candidate for a clinical protocol.

Boswellic Acid and Betulinic Acid Pre-treatments Can Prevent the Nephrotoxicity Caused by Cyclophosphamide Induction

Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat various cancers. However, its clinical use is limited due to severe organ damage, particularly to the kidneys. While several phytochemicals have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for CYP nephrotoxicity, the nephroprotective effects of boswellic acid (BOSW) and betulinic acid (BET) have not yet been investigated. Our study used 42 rats divided into six equal groups. The study included six groups: control, CYP (200 mg/kg), CYP+BOSW20 (20 mg/kg), CYP+BOSW40 (40 mg/kg), CYP+BET20 (20 mg/kg), and CYP+BET40 (40 mg/kg). The pre-treatments with BOSW and BET lasted for 14 days, while the application of cyclophosphamide was performed intraperitoneally only on the 4th day of the study. After the experimental protocol, the animals were sacrificed, and their kidney tissues were isolated. Renal function parameters, histological examination, oxidative stress, and inflammation parameters were assessed both biochemically and at the molecular level in kidney tissue. The results showed that oxidative stress and inflammatory response were increased in the kidney tissue of rats treated with CYP, leading to impaired renal histology and function parameters (p < 0.05). Oral administration of both doses of BET and especially high doses of BOSW improved biochemical, oxidative, and inflammatory parameters significantly (p < 0.05). Histological studies also showed the restoration of normal kidney tissue architecture. BOSW and BET have promising biological activity against CYP-induced nephrotoxicity by attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress and enhancing antioxidant status.

Protective potential of pterostilbene against cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity and cystitis in rats

PURPOSE

Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is an antitumor drug. However, in addition to its antitumor affect, CYP can also lead to nephrotoxicity and hemorrhagic cystitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential protective effects of Pterostilbene (Pte), a natural antioxidant as a resveratrol analog against CYP-induced nephrotoxicity and cystitis in rats.

METHODS

Twenty-one male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 equal groups. The control group and the CYP group (CYPG) received 1 ml/kg sunflower oil per day, and the CYP + Pte group (CYP + PteG) 40 mg/kg per day Pte dissolved in sunflower oil once a day via the oral route for 14 days. In addition, on day 9 of the experiment, CYPG and CYP + PteG received a single dose of 200 mg/kg CYP dissolved in saline solution, while the control group received a single dose of 10 ml/kg saline solution, via the intraperitoneal route. Bladder and kidney tissues were collected for histological and biochemical evaluations.

RESULTS

Pte was observed to reduce CYP-derived increases in malondialdehyde level, total oxidant status (TOS), the oxidative stress index (OSI), and apoptosis in kidney tissues and to cause an increase in superoxide dismutase levels. It also reduced CYP-derived increases in TOS, OSI, and apoptosis in bladder tissue. Moreover, Pte also ameliorated histopathological findings associated with CYP-induced tissue damage in both the kidney and bladder.

CONCLUSION

Our study findings show that Pte may exhibit a protective effect against CYP-induced nephrotoxicity and cystitis.

MESNA (2-Mercaptoethanesulfonate) Attenuates Brain, Heart, and Lung Injury Induced by Carotid Ischemia-Reperfusion in Rats

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) causes organ dysfunction as a result of the increased formation of various reactive oxygen metabolites, infiltration of inflammatory cells, interstitial edema, cellular dysfunction, and tissue death.

Aim

The study aimed to investigate the cytoprotective effect of 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA) against tissue damage in rats exposed to carotid ischemia-reperfusion.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 6): sham, carotid I/R, I/R + MESNA (75 mg/kg), and I/R + MESNA (150 mg/kg) groups. To induce ischemia in rats, the carotid arteries were ligated with silk sutures for 10 min; the silk suture was then opened, and 1 h reperfusion was done. MESNA (75 and 150 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before ischemia-reperfusion. Tissue samples from the animals were taken for histological examination, while the serum levels of some biochemical parameters were utilized to evaluate the systemic alterations. ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were applied with a significance level of 5%.

Results

The ischemia-reperfusion-induced tissue damage as evidenced by increase in serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, -2, -8) was significantly (P < 0.05-0.0001) reversed after treatment with MESNA in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with MESNA (75 and 150 mg/kg), significantly (P < 0.05-0.0001) decreased the I/R-induced increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1-beta (IL-1 β).

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that MESNA has a protective effect on tissues by suppressing cellular responses to oxidants and inflammatory mediators associated with carotid ischemia-reperfusion.

Sulfhydryl functionalized hyaluronic acid hydrogels attenuate cyclophosphamide-induced bladder injury

Clinical management of cyclophosphamide (CYP) results in numerous side effects including hemorrhagic cystitis (HC), which is characterized by inflammation and oxidative stress damage. Intravesical hyaluronic acid (HA) supplementation, a therapeutic method to restore barrier function of bladder, avoid the stimulation of metabolic toxicants on bladder and reduce inflammatory response, has shown good results in acute or chronic bladder diseases. However, there are unmet medical needs for the treatment of HC to temporarily restore bladder barrier and reduce inflammation. Herein, sulfhydryl functionalized HA (HA-SH) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used to prepared a hydrogel system for optimizing the treatment of HC. We systematically evaluated the physicochemical of hydrogels and their roles in a rat model of CYP-induced HC. The prepared hydrogels exhibited outstanding gel forming properties, injectability, and biosafety. Swelling and retention studies showed that hydrogels were stable and could prolong the residence time of HA in the bladder. Histopathology and vascular permeability studies indicated that the hydrogels significantly attenuated bladder injury caused by CYP administration. Moreover, the hydrogels also showed excellent anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation properties. In conclusion, these data suggest that intravesical instillation of HA-SH/DMSO hydrogels reduces CYP-induced bladder toxicity and this work provides a new strategy for the prevention and early treatment of HC.