Diosmin Mitigates Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats: Insights on miR-21 and -155 Expression, Nrf2/HO-1 and p38-MAPK/NF-κB Pathways

Gentamicin (GNT) is the most frequently used aminoglycoside. However, its therapeutic efficacy is limited due to nephrotoxicity. Thus, the potential anticipatory effect of Diosmin (DIOS) against GNT-prompted kidney damage in rats together with the putative nephroprotective pathways were scrutinized. Four groups of rats were used: (1) control; (2) GNT only; (3) GNT plus DIOS; and (4) DIOS only. Nephrotoxicity was elucidated, and the microRNA-21 (miR-21) and microRNA-155 (miR-155) expression and Nrf2/HO-1 and p38-MAPK/NF-κB pathways were assessed. GNT provoked an upsurge in the relative kidney weight and serum level of urea, creatinine, and KIM-1. The MDA level was markedly boosted, with a decline in the level of TAC, SOD, HO-1, and Nrf2 expression in the renal tissue. Additionally, GNT exhibited a notable amplification in TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB p65, and p38-MAPK kidney levels. Moreover, caspase-3 and BAX expression were elevated, whereas the Bcl-2 level was reduced. Furthermore, GNT resulted in the down-regulation of miR-21 expression along with an up-regulation of the miR-155 expression. Histological examination revealed inflammation, degradation, and necrosis. GNT-provoked pathological abnormalities were reversed by DIOS treatment, which restored normal kidney architecture. Hence, regulating miR-21 and -155 expression and modulating Nrf2/HO-1 and p38-MAPK/NF-κB pathways could take a vital part in mediating the reno-protective effect of DIOS.

Fluoxetine ameliorates Alzheimer's disease progression and prevents the exacerbation of cardiovascular dysfunction of socially isolated depressed rats through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and hindering TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway

Depression is a risk factor for Alzheimer's (AD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Therefore, depression treatment restricts its deteriorating effects on mood, memory and CV system. Fluoxetine is the most widely used antidepressant drug, it has neuroprotective effect through its antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties. The current study investigated for the first-time the cross link between depression, AD and CVD besides, role of fluoxetine in mitigating such disorders. Depression was induced in rats by social isolation (SI) for 12 weeks, AlCL3 (70 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was used to induce AD which was administered either in SI or normal control (NC) grouped rats starting at 8th week till the end of the experiment, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day, p.o) treatment also was started at 8th week. SI and AD showed a statistically significant deteriorated effect on behavioral, neurochemical and histopathological analysis which was exaggerated when two disorder combined than each alone. Fluoxetine treatment showed protective effect against SI, AD and prevents exacerbation of CVD. Fluoxetine improved animals' behavior, increased brain monoamines, BDNF besides increased antioxidant defense mechanism of SOD, TAC contents and increased protein expression of Nrf2/HO-1 with significant decrease of AChE activity, β-amyloid, Tau protein, MDA, TNF-α, IL1β contents as well as decreased protein expression of NF-kB, TLR4, NLRP3 and caspase1. It also showed cardioprotective effects as it improved lipid profile with pronounced decrease of cardiac enzymes of CK-MB, troponin and MEF2. In conclusion, fluoxetine represents as a promising drug against central and peripheral disorders through its anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects via targeting antioxidant Nrf2/HO-1 and hindering TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways.