1
|
El-Sheikh MM, Aziz MM, Abdelrahman SSM, Mohmad MAEH. The protective effect of crocin against testicular toxicity induced by ionizing radiation via AKT/FOXO pathway. Environ Toxicol 2023; 38:2981-2992. [PMID: 37615252 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Crocin, a pharmacologically active component of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), has been informed to be beneficial in the treatment of stress-related oxidative impairment. In the present study, we examined the protective role of crocin against testicular damage induced by radiation (acute and fractionated) and the alteration of the AKT/FOXO signaling pathway. Male Wister albino rats were exposed to acute dose of 6 Gy and a fractionated dose of gamma radiation (2 Gy every 2 days up to 6 Gy total doses). Rats were pretreated intraperitoneally with crocin in a dose of 50 mg/kg for seven consecutive days prior to exposure to irradiation at a level of 6 Gy and during the fractionated irradiation of rats. Control groups were run concurrently. Ionizing radiation caused changes in the level of oxidative stress biomarkers manifested as elevation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, total nitrate/nitrite and reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with a decrease in catalase as well as in the level of inflammatory parameters (decrease in expression of Nrf2 which was related to a significant increase in expression of NF-κB p65). Irradiation produced cellular damage characterized by an increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase. These findings were aligned with increased expression of the forkhead box O-1 (FOXO-1) and activation of protein kinase B (AKT) pathway. Irradiation of rats led to reduction in serum testosterone level and testicular weights. Pretreatment with the indicated dose of crocin shielded against the changes in all the evaluated parameters. Administration of crocin can be introduced as a novel preclinical approach for regulation of testicular damage induced by radiation; via controlling the ongoing oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction as well as activation FOXO/AKT signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M El-Sheikh
- Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maha M Aziz
- Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sahar S M Abdelrahman
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa Abd El Hameed Mohmad
- Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Elbaset MA, Mohamed BMSA, Moustafa PE, Mansour DF, Afifi SM, Esatbeyoglu T, Abdelrahman SSM, Fayed HM. Erythropoietin Suppresses the Hepatic Fibrosis Caused by Thioacetamide: Role of the PI3K/Akt and TLR4 Signaling Pathways. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2023; 2023:5514248. [PMID: 37649466 PMCID: PMC10465256 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5514248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) is recognized for its function in erythropoiesis; however, its potential antifibrotic effect against liver fibrosis remains unknown. This study examined whether EPO affects thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis by concentrating on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) cascade and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway as possible pathways. Male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups, which included: the negative control group, the TAA group (intraperitoneal; TAA 100 mg/kg three times per week for 2 weeks), and EPO-treated groups (150 and 300 IU/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks after TAA injections. EPO attenuated hepatic fibrosis in a dosage-dependent way, as manifested by the diminution in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, as well as the increase in albumin level. EPO inhibited the increase in tissue levels of tumor necrosis factors-α, interleukin-1β, transforming growth factor-β1, and TLR4 and raised tissue levels of PI3K and p-PI3K. EPO antioxidant properties were demonstrated by restoring hepatic glutathione and superoxide dismutase by preventing the accumulation of hepatic malondialdehyde. Further, EPO increased the protein expression of PI3K and Akt and decreased TLR4 protein expression. Immunohistochemically, EPO treatment altered tissue histology and downregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase protein expression. Overall, the research suggested that EPO could prevent TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis through upregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade and downregulation the TLR4 downstream axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marawan A. Elbaset
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Bassim M. S. A. Mohamed
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Passant E. Moustafa
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Dina F. Mansour
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Galala University, Attaka, Suez, Egypt
| | - Sherif M. Afifi
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt
| | - Tuba Esatbeyoglu
- Department of Food Development and Food Quality, Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Am Kleinen Felde 30, Hannover 30167, Germany
| | - Sahar S. M. Abdelrahman
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, P.O. Box 12211, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hany M. Fayed
- Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fahim TM, Mohamed MAELH, Abdelrahman SSM, Lotfy DM. Beneficial Effect of Rosuvastatin Therapy on Spleen Injury Induced by Gamma Irradiation in Rats: Targeting Nrf2/EPRE Pathway. Dose Response 2023; 21:15593258231179900. [PMID: 37255693 PMCID: PMC10226320 DOI: 10.1177/15593258231179900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The present study investigates the new approach of rosuvastatin (RUV) administration as a drug for the management of spleen injury induced by gamma irradiation. Main Methods Forty rats were used and divided equally into 4 groups: control group, irradiated group, IRR + rosuvastatin group (10 mg/Kg b. wt), and IRR + rosuvastatin group (20 mg/kg b. wt) for 7 days orally. Results The possible curative effect can be illustrated via the improvement of hematopoietic cell count (Hb, RBCs, and WBCs) and oxidative stress markers (MDA and GST) in addition to biochemical parameters including [heme oxigenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain- containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome] and immune assay of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB P65) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Histological pictures emphasize the biochemical findings. Rosuvastatin treatments by using two different doses improve the tested parameters. High-dose administration of RUV (20 mg/kg p.o.) recorded better results than the low dose (10 mg/kg p.o.). Conclusion Our results suggested that rosuvastatin reversed the radiation-induced spleen-damaging effects. So, RUV can be introduced to the market as a new therapy for the management of spleen damages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thanaa M. Fahim
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and
Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa Abd EL-Hameed Mohamed
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and
Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Dina M. Lotfy
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and
Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|