Amelioration of behavioural, biochemical, and neurophysiological deficits by combination of monosodium glutamate with resveratrol/alpha-lipoic acid/coenzyme Q10 in rat model of cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy

Ameliorative and protective effects of coenzyme Q10 against natural and chemical toxicity: a narrative review

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or ubiquinone is the most known dietary and nutritional supplementation, which has various functions in the body such as involvement in adenosine triphosphate production, modulation of gene expression, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. It has been indicated that it is useful against cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and so on, which are induced by various toxicants. In this review, we selected articles that include the protective effects of CoQ10 against the toxicity of various chemical and natural compounds including pharmaceuticals, metals, pesticides, etc. Scientific databases including PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to find relevant in vitro and in vivo studies. The underlying protective mechanisms for CoQ10 against natural and chemical compound toxicity included the enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and suppression of pro-inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and IL-6. Furthermore, it has anti-apoptotic potential by regulating the B-cell lymphoma, Bcl-2-associated X protein, and caspase3/9. Overall, these properties make CoQ10 a highly fascinating compound that may contribute to different aspects of health.

Deferiprone ameliorates cisplatin induced peripheral neurotoxicity via ferritinophagy adjustment

Cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity is one of the limiting factors to its use especially in tumors that demand high drug dosage. One of the Cisplatin pathways is ferritinophagy which may end up in ferroptosis. So, we aimed to use iron chelator as a new strategy based on an anti-ferroptotic mechanism and to evaluate its neuroprotective effect against polyneuropathy in Cisplatin-treated rats. Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats were arranged into four groups: (I) Control group, rats were given vehicle; (II) Def group, rats received deferiprone (200 mg/kg orally once daily for 10 days); (III) Cis group, rats were injected by Cis 2 mg/Kg once daily for 3 consecutive days i.p.; and (IV) Cis + Def group, rats received deferiprone (200 mg/kg orally once daily for 10 days, rats were injected with Cis in the 4th, 5th, and 6th days). Cis increased and upregulated ferritinophagy inducers significantly including MDA, NCOA4, and IREB1 as compared to the control group. On the other hand, GSH, GPX4, SLCA11 and FTH1 were decreased and down regulated significantly compared to the control group. In addition to significant deterioration in the histopathological and immunological nerve tissue assessment using silver stain and PNCA. Embracing the cisplatin dosage with deferiprone reversed cisplatin-induced neuropathy, in which the physiological function significantly improved along with the immune and histopathology of nerve tissue. This was accompanied by down regulation of ferritinophagy inducers and enhancing ferritinophagy inhibitors. The current results concluded that rapping cisplatin with deferiprone can mitigate neurotoxicity induced by cisplatin in experimental animals through ferritinophagy pathway adjustment.

Effects of Repeated Cisplatin and Monosodium Glutamate on Visceral Sensitivity in Rats

Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic drug, is known for causing gastrointestinal disorders and neuropathic pain, but its impact on visceral sensitivity is unclear. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been shown to improve gastrointestinal dysmotility and neuropathic pain induced by cisplatin in rats. This study aimed to determine if repeated cisplatin treatment alters visceral sensitivity and whether dietary MSG can prevent these changes. Male Wistar HAN rats were treated with saline or cisplatin (2 mg/kg/week, ip) for 5 weeks, and visceral sensitivity to intracolonic mechanical stimulation was recorded after the final cisplatin administration (week 5) and one-week post-treatment (week 6). In a second cohort, rats treated with cisplatin or saline also received MSG (4 g/L) in their drinking water, and visceral sensitivity was evaluated on week 6. Finally, the untouched distal colon was obtained from a third cohort of animals one week after treatment to assess immunocyte infiltration. Cisplatin significantly increased colonic mechanical sensitivity on week 6 but not on week 5. MSG did not prevent cisplatin-induced visceral hypersensitivity on week 6 and even exacerbated it. On week 6, compared with the control, cisplatin (with or without MSG) did not modify the colonic infiltration of eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils, or mast cells. Although MSG seems to be useful in ameliorating some of the adverse effects of cisplatin, such as gastrointestinal motility disturbances or neuropathic pain, it does not alleviate visceral pain.

Effects of vincristine and monosodium glutamate on gastrointestinal motility and visceral sensitivity

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-induced adverse effects are an unresolved nightmare. In preclinical studies in rats, the food additive monosodium glutamate (MSG) improved some of the side effects caused by cisplatin, but its effects in other models of chemotherapy-treated animals are not well known. The aim of this study was to test if MSG may improve some of the adverse effects induced by vincristine in rats.

METHODS

Young male Wistar rats were exposed or not to MSG (4 g L-1 ) in drinking water from week 0 till 1 week after treatment (week 3). Rats received two cycles of five daily intraperitoneal (ip) injections (Monday to Friday, weeks 1 and 2) of either saline (2 mL kg-1 ) or vincristine (0.1 mg kg-1 ). Gastrointestinal motility was measured in vivo by radiological methods after the first and tenth ip administrations. On week 3, the threshold for mechanical somatic and colorectal sensitivity was recorded using Von Frey filaments applied to the paws and an intracolonic balloon, respectively. Finally, samples of the terminal ileum and distal colon were histologically evaluated in sections.

KEY RESULTS

Vincristine reduced body weight gain, food intake, and upper gastrointestinal transit, caused somatic (but not visceral) hypersensitivity and increased the thickness of the submucosal and muscle layers of the small intestine. In vincristine-treated animals, MSG partially prevented gastrointestinal dysmotility and reduced visceral sensitivity but did not improve structural alterations of the small intestine.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

MSG could be used as an adjuvant to conventional treatments to improve some gastrointestinal dysfunctions caused by chemotherapy.

Effects of the food additive monosodium glutamate on cisplatin-induced gastrointestinal dysmotility and peripheral neuropathy in the rat

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug known to produce intense vomiting, gastric dysmotility, and peripheral neuropathy. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer with prokinetic properties potentially useful for cancer patients under chemotherapy. Our aim was to test whether MSG may improve gastrointestinal motor dysfunction and other adverse effects induced by repeated cisplatin in rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were exposed or not to MSG (4 g L^-1 ) in drinking water from week 0 to 1 week after treatment. On the first day of weeks 1-5, rats were treated with saline or cisplatin (2 mg kg^-1  week^-1 , ip). Gastrointestinal motility was measured by radiological methods after first and fifth administrations, as well as 1 week after treatment finalization. One week after treatment, the threshold for mechanical somatic sensitivity was recorded. Finally, samples of stomach, terminal ileum and kidneys were evaluated in sections using conventional histology. The myenteric plexus was immunohistochemically evaluated on distal colon whole-mount preparations.

KEY RESULTS

Monosodium glutamate prevented the development of cisplatin-induced neuropathy and partially improved intestinal transit after the fifth cisplatin administration with little impact on gastric dysmotility. MSG did not improve the histological damage of gut wall, but prevented the changes induced by cisplatin in the colonic myenteric plexus.

CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES

Our results suggest that MSG can improve some dysfunctions caused by anticancer chemotherapy in the gut and other systems, associated, at least partially, with neuroprotectant effects. The potentially useful adjuvant role of this food additive to reduce chemotherapy-induced sequelae warrants further evaluation.

The Role of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Diabetic Wound Healing

Foot ulcers are one of the most common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus with significant resultant morbidity and mortality. Multiple factors impair wound healing include skin injury, diabetic neuropathy, ischemia, infection, inadequate glycemic control, poor nutritional status, and severe morbidity. It is currently believed that oxidative stress plays a vital role in diabetic wound healing. An imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body results in overproduction of reactive oxygen species which lead to cell, tissue damage, and delayed wound healing. Therefore, decreasing ROS levels through antioxidative systems may reduce oxidative stress-induced damage to improve healing. In this context, we provide an update on the role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in diabetic wound healing through following four perspectives. We then discuss several therapeutic strategies especially dietary bioactive compounds by targeting oxidative stress to improve wounds healing.

Resveratrol increases the sensitivity of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line to cisplatin by regulating intrinsic apoptosis

OBJECTIVES

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Chemotherapeutic agents used during treatment induce cytotoxic effects also on normal cells in the tissues. Anti-oxidants used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to reduce toxicity on normal cells to a minimum, and some anti-oxidant substances have chemotherapeutic effects. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a platinum class drug that is used clinically in the treatment of many cancers. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenol with potent anti-oxidant and anticancer properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate apoptotic effects of using cisplatin and RSV alone or in combined treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic effects of the drugs on MDA-MB-231 cells were determined by MTT method. Subsequently, the change in CDDP-induced apoptotic effect after RSV addition was examined using the AnnexinV FITC labeling, and TUNEL staining method. Activation of caspase-9, -3 in MDA-MB-231 cells was measured by flow cytometer. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), the major factor on the intrinsic pathway, was measured using flowcytometry.

RESULTS

The combined dose (23 μM CDDP + 72 μM RSV) produced more cytotoxicity than the agents used alone, leading to early apoptosis (8.2%), 31% depolarization, and 23% DNA fragmentation. Caspase-9 was found to be 30.5% in this combined group and caspase-3 was 26.3%.

CONCLUSION

RSV, an effective anti-oxidant, and CDDP as an effective drug in cancer treatment, were found to increase apoptosis when given in the MDA-MB-231 cell.

Metformin as a potential therapeutic for neurological disease: mobilizing AMPK to repair the nervous system

Introduction:

Metformin is currently first line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The mechanism of action of metformin involves activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to enhance mitochondrial function (for example, biogenesis, refurbishment and dynamics) and autophagy. Many neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems arise from metabolic failure and toxic protein aggregation where activated AMPK could prove protective.

Areas covered:

The authors review literature on metformin treatment in Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other neurological diseases of the CNS along with neuroprotective effects of AMPK activation and suppression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway on peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. The authors compare the efficacy of metformin with the actions of resveratrol.

Expert opinion:

Metformin, through activation of AMPK and autophagy, can enhance neuronal bioenergetics, promote nerve repair and reduce toxic protein aggregates in neurological diseases. A long history of safe use in humans should encourage development of metformin and other AMPK activators in preclinical and clinical research. Future studies in animal models of neurological disease should strive to further dissect in a mechanistic manner the pathways downstream from metformin-dependent AMPK activation, and to further investigate mTOR dependent and independent signaling pathways driving neuroprotection.

Neurotoxicity of antineoplastic drugs: Mechanisms, susceptibility, and neuroprotective strategies

This review summarizes the adverse effects on the central and/or peripheral nervous systems that may occur in response to antineoplastic drugs. In particular, we describe the neurotoxic side effects of the most commonly used drugs, such as platinum compounds, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, 5-fluorouracil, vinca alkaloids, taxanes, methotrexate, bortezomib and thalidomide. Neurotoxicity may result from direct action of compounds on the nervous system or from metabolic alterations produced indirectly by these drugs, and either the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system, or both, may be affected. The incidence and severity of neurotoxicity are principally related to the dose, to the duration of treatment, and to the dose intensity, though other factors, such as age, concurrent pathologies, and genetic predisposition may enhance the occurrence of side effects. To avoid or reduce the onset and severity of these neurotoxic effects, the use of neuroprotective compounds and/or strategies may be helpful, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effectiveness of antineoplastic drug.

Allantoin attenuates deficits of behavioural and motor nerve conduction in an animal model of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in rats

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of allantoin in cisplatin-induced toxicity in rats.

METHODS

Adult male Wistar rats weighing 160-200 g were used. Neuropathy was induced by injecting cisplatin (2 mg/kg, ip, twice a week for 6 weeks) and the rats were concurrently treated with allantoin (200 and 400 mg/kg, po) for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, body weight and hemogram were measured. Behavioural tests were performed, including tests for cold and hot hyperalgesia, motor co-ordination, locomotor activity, mechano-tactile allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia. The rats were then sacrificed and sciatic nerve conduction velocity was determined. The antioxidant enzyme and nitric oxide levels in sciatic nerve homogenates were measured.

RESULTS

In this study, allantoin restored the motor nerve conduction velocity deficits induced by cisplatin, and the allantoin-treated rats showed improvement in cold and thermal hyperalgesia, mechano-tactile allodynia, and mechanical hyperalgesia. Allantoin treatment also improved the rats' hematological status, increasing haemoglobin, platelet and RBC counts compared to the cisplatin-treated group. Allantoin treatment also mitigated the functional abnormalities seen in the cisplatin neuropathy group, protecting neurons from the neurotoxic effects of cisplatin.

CONCLUSION

Allantoin shows promise for use as an adjuvant drug in cancer treatment to protect against cisplatin-induced neuropathy.

Mahdy E, R. Youness E, Shafee N, S.S. Mowafy M, M. Mabrouk M. Effect of Co Enzyme Q10 Alone or in Combination with Vitamin C on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Brain Injury in Rats

Our was to determine the impact of CoenzymeQ10 (Co Q10) and vitamin C alone or in combination on oxidative stress in brain tissue of rats during endotoxemia induced by single intraperitoneal dose of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 500µg/kg. Both CoQ10&vitamin C were given orally to rats with doses (200&100 mg/kg) respectively for 7successive days prior induction of endotoxemia .LPS injected, with Co Q10 with doses (100 &200 mg/kg) &vit. C (50&100 mg/kg).In addition CoQ10 and vitamin C together in doses (100&50 mg/kg) & (200&100 mg/kg) respectively were added to LPS-treated rats. Then euthanized 4 hours later. Histopathological assessment of brain tissue was done. Results: LPS injection induced oxidative stress in brain tissue, resulting in marked increase in malondiadehyde (MDA), nitrite (NO) and Amyloid beta (Aβ), while decreasing reduced glutathione (GSH), paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).CoQ10 and vit.C administration with doses(200&100 mg/ kg) before endotoxemia result in reduction of brain MDA, NO and Aβ, while increasing levels of GSH, PON1 and BDNF compared to controls. The addition of both Co Q10 &vit.C to LPS- treated rats lead to decrease of brain NO, MDA and Aβ, also increase of GSH, PON1 and BDNF. This effect was more obviouswith high doses, this due to the ameliorating effect of both CoQ10 and vit.C on oxidative stress of brain tissue during endotoxemia.This consisted with the histopathological results. Conclusion: this work focuses on the possible role of CoQ10 &vit.C as antioxidants in protecting brain tissue.

Mitigation of cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy by canagliflozin in rats

Peripheral nervous system neurotoxicity is the most problematic complication of cisplatin treatment. In this study, we have addressed the possible neuroprotective effect of canagliflozin on cisplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in rats. Rats were randomly allocated into the following: control (vehicle) group, received hydhroxypropyl methyl cellulose; cisplatin group, injected cisplatin 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal, twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks; canagliflozin-cisplatin of received canagliflozin, 10 mg/kg/day by gavage and cisplatin in the same schedule like cisplatin group. Thermal nociception and rotarod performance were assessed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and caspase 3 were determined in serum. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical stained sciatic nerve sections were examined. Cisplatin induced thermal hypoalgesia and decreased rotarod performance as well as GSH serum level while increased MDA, TNF-α, and caspase-3 serum levels with atrophy and fragmentation of the nerve fibers with decreased expression of myelin basic protein. Canagliflozin prevented thermal hypoalgesia and improved rotarod performance with increment in GSH serum level while decreased MDA, TNF-α, and caspase-3 levels as well as prevented fragmentation of the nerve fibers and enhanced myelin basic protein expression in relation to cisplatin group. Canagliflozin attenuates the neurotoxic effect of cisplatin through anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant actions as well as inhibition of apoptosis.

Nebivolol, a β-blocker abrogates streptozotocin-induced behavioral, biochemical, and neurophysiological deficit by attenuating oxidative-nitrosative stress: a possible target for the prevention of diabetic neuropathy

Metabolic abnormalities including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative-nitrosative stress are involved in the progression of diabetic neuropathy. In the present study, we targeted oxidative-nitrosative stress using nebivolol, a β₁-receptor antagonist with vasodilator and antioxidant property, to evaluate its neuroprotective effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in rats. Diabetic neuropathy develops within 4-6 weeks after administration of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.). Therefore, after confirmation of diabetes, subtherapeutic doses of nebivolol (1 and 2 mg/kg, p.o./day) were given to diabetic rats for 8 weeks. Nebivolol treatment significantly improved thermal hyperalgesia, grip strength, and motor coordination. Nebivolol also reduced levels of malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitrite in diabetes. Moreover, nebivolol increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in sciatic nerve homogenate of diabetic rats. Further, nebivolol exerted positive effects on lipid profile, sciatic nerve's morphological changes and nerve conduction velocity in diabetic rats. Results of the present study suggest the neuroprotective effect of nebivolol through its antioxidant, nitric oxide-potentiating, and antihyperlipidemic activity.

Functional recovery upon human dental pulp stem cell transplantation in a diabetic neuropathy rat model

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is among the most debilitating complications of diabetes. Here, we investigated the effects of human dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) transplantation in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neuropathic rats. Six weeks after STZ injection, DPSCs were transplanted through two routes, intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM), in single or two repeat doses. Two weeks after transplantation, a significant improvement in hyperalgesia, grip-strength, motor coordination and nerve conduction velocity was observed in comparison with controls. A rapid improvement in neuropathic symptoms was observed for a single dose of DPSC IV; however, repeat dose of DPSC IV did not bring about added improvement. A single dose of DPSC IM showed steady improvement, and further recovery continued upon repeat IM administration. DPSC single dose IV showed greater improvement than DPSC single dose IM, but IM transplantation brought about better improvement in body weight. A marked reduction in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was observed in the blood plasma for all treated groups, as compared with controls. With respect to inflammatory cytokines, repeat dose of DPSC IM showed further improvement, suggesting that a repeat dose is required to maintain the improved inflammatory state. Gene expression of inflammatory markers in liver confirmed amelioration in inflammation. Arachidonic acid level was unaffected by IV DPSC transplantation but showed noticeable increase through IM administration of a repeat dose. These results suggest that DPSC transplantation through both routes and dosage was beneficial for the retrieval of neuropathic parameters of DN; transplantation via the IM route with repeat dose was the most effective.

Coenzyme Q10 plus Multivitamin Treatment Prevents Cisplatin Ototoxicity in Rats

Cisplatin (Cpt) is known to induce a high level of oxidative stress, resulting in an increase of reactive oxygen species damaging the inner ear and causing hearing loss at high frequencies. Studies on animal models show that antioxidants may lower Cpt-induced ototoxicity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ototoxic effects of two different protocols of Cpt administration in a Sprague-Dawley rat model, and to test in the same model the synergic protective effects of a solution of coenzyme Q10 terclatrate and Acuval 400®, a multivitamin supplement containing antioxidant agents and minerals (Acu-Qter). The Cpt was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose (14 mg/kg) or in three daily doses (4.6 mg/kg/day) to rats orally treated or untreated with Acu-Qter for 5 days. The auditory function was assessed by measuring auditory brainstem responses from 2 to 32 kHz at day 0 and 5 days after treatment. Similar hearing threshold and body weight alterations were observed in both Cpt administration protocols, but mortality reduced to zero when Cpt was administered in three daily doses. The Acu-Qter treatment was able to prevent and completely neutralize ototoxicity in rats treated with three daily Cpt doses, supporting the synergic protective effects of coenzyme Q terclatrate and Acuval 400® against Cpt-induced oxidative stress. The administration protocol involving three Cpt doses is more similar to common human chemotherapy protocols, therefore it appears more useful for long-term preclinical studies on ototoxicity prevention.