Impact of Washingtonia robusta Leaves on Gamma Irradiation-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats and Correlation with STING Pathway and Phenolic Composition

Effect of Gamma Rays on Adropin as a Potential Hepatokine Marker for Liver Damage in Male Albino Rats

Purpose

This work was the first study to show the impact of γ- radiation on adropin levels in the serum and liver tissue of male albino rats.

Methods

Liver tissue and blood samples of rats were collected at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after whole-body exposure to 7.5 Gy of γ-radiation.

Results

Irradiated groups revealed a marked decrease in adropin associated with a significant increase in STAT3 in the serum and gene expression. Furthermore, lipid profile (cholesterol, T.G, HDL, LDL, VLDL), liver function (AST, ALT, albumin and total protein), complete blood count (RBCs, WBCs, PLT, Hb, Hct%, MCH, MCV, WBCs differential), glucose and insulin were exhibited more noticeable alterations at all time periods of the experiment. In addition, data exhibited an obvious elevation in some inflammatory markers (IL-6) and TOS accompanied by a decline in the TAC.

Conclusion and future scope of work

γ- radiation has adverse effects on adropin that related inversely with STAT3, leading to further damage to liver cells as well as disturbances in lipid and glucose metabolism. Therefore, adropin could be used in people exposed to radiation such radiotherapy to control the serious effects of radiation. Further study is needed to confirm these results.

Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl Leaf Metabolites Potentiate the Radiosensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Ki67 and PARP Inhibition

OBJECTIVES

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the third-most prevalent cancer in humans worldwide. The current study's objective is to search for the potentiality of Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl (W. robusta) leaf extract in a nanoemulsion (NE) form in enhancing radiotherapy against HCC induced in rats using diethylnitrosamine (DEN).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The metabolic composition of the bioactive extract of W. robusta leaves was investigated by LC-MS. Oral epithelial (OEC) and liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines were used to examine the safety and anticancer activity of the NE, respectively. In the in vivo study, HCC was induced in male albino rats through administration of DEN in drinking water for 8 weeks, then treatment with NE (100 mg/kg) until the experiment's ending. Rats were irradiated by a fractionated dose of 2Gy*4.

RESULTS

NE exerted remarkable cytotoxicity in comparison to the parent extract and the standard doxorubicin on the HepG2 cell line. Besides, the NE administration and/or γ-irradiation (IRR) significantly reduced the elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins, and albumin levels in HCC-induced rats. Likewise, the tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were considerably reduced in HCC rats. In addition, NE treatment before IRR significantly decreased the expression of the poly ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP1) enzyme and Ki67. Furthermore, the histological investigations strongly confirmed the combined effect of NE and IRR in fighting DEN-induced HCC.

CONCLUSION

NE of W. robusta extract may possess a radiosensitizing novel impact and provide a new strategy to combat HCC in clinical practices.

Correction: Selim et al. Impact of Washingtonia robusta Leaves on Gamma Irradiation-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats and Correlation with STING Pathway and Phenolic Composition. Pharmaceuticals 2020, 13, 320

In the original publication [...].

The senomorphic impact of astaxanthin on irradiated rat spleen: STING, TLR4 and mTOR contributed pathway

OBJECTIVES

Exposure of spleen tissues to ionizing radiation during radiotherapy can induce cellular stress and immune-dysfunction leading to cellular senescence.

INTRODUCTION

The process of a cancerous development is facilitated by the accumulation of senescent cells. This justifies the incorporation of anti-senescent medications during splenic irradiation (SI).

METHODS

In this study senescence was induced in the spleen of male albino rats by radiation exposure (5Gy-single whole body gamma-irradiation) then after 2 weeks, oral astaxanthin regimen was started once daily in a dose of 25 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. Concurrent control groups were carried out.

RESULTS

the present data reflected that irradiation provoked an increase in the oxidative stress biomarkers (nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation and total reactive oxygen species levels)and the inflammatory biomarkers (Myeloperoxidase and interleukin-6). In addition irradiation led to the over expression of stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) along with the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16) increment with elevation of tumor suppressor protein (p53) level. However, reduced glutathione contents and catalase activity were reduced post irradiation in spleen tissues, all these changes reflecting induction of cellular senescence. Astaxanthin treatment showed an improvement in the antioxidant/oxidative stress balance, inflammatory biomarkers, histopathological examination and immunohistochemical expressions of the tested proteins in the irradiated rats.

CONCLUSION

the current findings offer a new insight into the senomorphic effect of astaxanthin following radiation-induced spleen senescence via STING, mTOR, and TLR4 signalling pathways.

Co-exposure to molybdenum and cadmium evokes necroptosis and decreases apoptosis in duck myocardium

Superfluous molybdenum (Mo) and cadmium (Cd) in the environment are detrimental to organisms through their accumulation. The NF-κB/TNF-α axis plays a vital part in regulating necroptosis and apoptosis. However, the impacts of Mo and/or Cd on myocardium injury in ducks and the function of NF-κB/TNF-α axis are not clear in the process. In this research, ducks exposed to different dosages of Mo and/or Cd were applied as the study object. The findings substantiated that the accumulation of Mo and/or Cd caused elements imbalance and necroptosis in myocardial tissue. As p-NF-κB/TNF-α expression up-regulated, RIPK1/RIPK3/p-MLKL expression significantly increased in all treatment groups, while the expression of c-caspase-8/3 markedly decreased. Moreover, apoptosis rate obviously decreased in Cd treated groups and clearly elevated in Mo group. Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis was activated by excessive Mo and inhibited by Mo + Cd, but Cd exposure alone had little effect on it. Collectively, our research confirmed that Mo and/or Cd evoked necroptosis via NF-κB/TNF-α axis, and decreased death receptor-mediated apoptosis in duck myocardium, the impacts of Mo and/or Cd on mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis were different. These results are significant for studying toxicology of Mo and/or Cd and preserving the ecosystem.

Radioprotective effects of melatonin and thymoquinone on liver, parotid gland, brain, and testis of rats exposed to total body irradiation

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate thymoquinone (TQ), and melatonin's radioprotective effects on liver, parotid gland, brain, and testis of rats which were exposed to total body irradiation (IR).

METHODS

Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups that are Group 1 (control group): total body IR only, Group 2: IR-Melatonin (10 mg/kg), Group 3: IR-TQ (10 mg/kg), and Group 4 (sham group): nothing. Total body IR dose was 6 Gy. Tissue samples were taken 90 min after IR. The measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were performed in all groups.

RESULTS

In IR group, GSH-Px and SOD activities significantly decreased whereas MDA levels significantly increased when compared with the sham in all tissues. We recorded a significant decrease in MDA levels in IR-TQ group in liver and parotid gland of rats. Moreover, SOD did not change in IR-TQ group compared with IR only group.

DISCUSSION

Melatonin, a powerful antioxidant, plays role in preventing oxidative stress. We revealed that premedication with TQ significantly inhibited the increase in MDA induced by IR in liver and parotid gland and protected the activities of SOD, an antioxidant enzyme, in all other tissues. It has been revealed that TQ has a potential effect preventing IR-induced damage as much as melatonin.

Radiosensitizing Effect of Bromelain Using Tumor Mice Model via Ki-67 and PARP-1 Inhibition

Recent reports have shown that bromelain (BL), a pineapple extract, acts as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment and prevention of carcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the possible mechanisms by which BL could radiosensitize tumor cells in vitro and in a mouse tumor model. BL has shown a significant reduction in the viability of the radioresistant human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell line using cell proliferation assay. The in vivo study was designed using the Ehrlich model in female albino mice, treated with BL (6 mg/kg b. wt., intraperitoneal, once daily for 10 days) 1 hour before exposure to a fractionated dose of gamma radiation (5 Gy, 1 Gy for 5 subsequent days). The radiosensitizing effect of BL was evident in terms of a significant reduction in tumor volume, poly ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1), the proliferation marker Ki-67 and nuclear factor kappa activated B cells (NF-κB) with a significant elevation in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in tumor cells. The present findings offer a novel insight into the radiosensitizing effect of BL and its potential application in the radiotherapy course.

The Cytosolic DNA-Sensing cGAS-STING Pathway in Liver Diseases

Inflammation is regulated by the host and is a protective response activated by the evolutionarily conserved immune system in response to harmful stimuli, such as dead cells or pathogens. cGAS-STING pathway is a vital natural sensor of host immunity that can defend various tissues and organs against pathogenic infection, metabolic syndrome, cellular stress and cancer metastasis. The potential impact of cGAS-STING pathway in hepatic ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury, alcoholic/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), hepatic B virus infection, and other liver diseases has recently attracted widespread attention. In this review, the relationship between cGAS-STING pathway and the pathophysiological mechanisms and progression of liver diseases is summarized. Additionally, we discuss various pharmacological agonists and antagonists of cGAS-STING signaling as novel therapeutics for the treatment of liver diseases. A detailed understanding of mechanisms and biology of this pathway will lay a foundation for the development and clinical application of therapies for related liver diseases.

Novel iodinated quinazolinones bearing sulfonamide as new scaffold targeting radiation induced oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an integral role in the pathogenesis of most diseases. This work presents the design and synthesis of fourteen new diiodoquinazolinone derivatives bearing benzenesulfonamide moiety with variable acetamide tail and evaluation of their ability to activate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) using its classical target NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells. The N-(2-chloropyridin-3-yl)-2-((6,8-diiodo-4-oxo-3-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)thio) acetamide 17 was the most potent NQO1 inducer (CD = 25 µM) with free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 28 µM) and in vivo median lethal dose (LD50) of 500 mg/Kg. The possible radioprotective activity of compound 17 was evaluated in (7 Gy) irradiated mice. Compound 17 showed a reduction in radiation induced oxidative stress as evidenced by the lower levels of ROS, malondialdehyde (MDA) and NQO1 in liver tissues. Moreover, compound 17 showed improvement in the complete blood count (CBC) of irradiated mice and decreased mortality over 30 days following irradiation. Additionally, docking studies inside the Nrf2-binding site of Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1), the main negative regulator of Nrf2, confirmed that 17 revealed the same interactions with the key amino acids as those of the co-crystallized ligand. This study identifies 17 as a novel antioxidant that protects against the harmful effect of radiation.