Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Nasr City, PO Box 29, Cairo, Egypt.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 Mar;25(9):9060-9070. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-1146-0. Epub 2018 Jan 15.
The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible protective role of the algae spirulina (Sp) against nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress which are the main secondary effects induced by the immunosuppressant drug CSA and/or ionizing radiation. In this study, male rats were given Sp (1 g/kg) either for 15 days before irradiation (6.5 Gy) or 5 days before and 10 days concomitant with CSA (25 mg/kg). Markers used to assess renal injury included serum creatinine, urea, glucose, albumin, protein, and lipid profile as well as kidney content of reduced glutathione (GSH); lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)); nitrite and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In addition, some trace elements (Zn and Mg) were estimated in kidney. Apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemical estimation of caspase-3 expression in addition to histopathological examination. Results revealed that gamma radiation and/or CSA induced elevation in urea, creatinine, lipids, and glucose while decreasing albumin and protein levels. There was a noticeable increase in kidney content of GSH, TBARS, and nitrite. Meanwhile, profound decrease in kidney SOD activity was observed. Treatment with Sp significantly reversed the changes induced by CSA and/or gamma radiation in renal function tests. Spirulina also ameliorated kidney oxidative stress through decreasing GSH, TBARS, and nitrite kidney content while increasing SOD activity. Histopathological examination further confirmed Sp protective efficacy. Moreover, kidney caspase-3 expression that was triggered by CSA and/or gamma radiation was decreased. In conclusion, spirulina can be regarded as a promising renoprotective natural agent against renal injury induced by CSA and/or gamma radiation.
本研究旨在评估藻类螺旋藻（Sp）对免疫抑制剂 CSA 和/或电离辐射引起的肾毒性和氧化应激的可能保护作用。在这项研究中，雄性大鼠在照射（6.5Gy）前 15 天或照射前 5 天和 CSA（25mg/kg）同时 10 天给予 Sp（1g/kg）。用于评估肾损伤的标志物包括血清肌酐、尿素、葡萄糖、白蛋白、蛋白质和脂质谱以及肾还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量；脂质过氧化（硫代巴比妥酸反应物质（TBARS））；亚硝酸盐和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性。此外，还估计了肾脏中的一些微量元素（Zn 和 Mg）。通过免疫组织化学估计 caspase-3 的表达以及组织病理学检查来评估细胞凋亡。结果表明，γ 辐射和/或 CSA 导致尿素、肌酐、脂质和葡萄糖升高，而白蛋白和蛋白质水平降低。肾 GSH、TBARS 和亚硝酸盐含量明显增加。同时，观察到肾 SOD 活性显著下降。Sp 治疗显著逆转了 CSA 和/或 γ 辐射对肾功能试验的影响。螺旋藻还通过降低 GSH、TBARS 和肾亚硝酸盐含量以及增加 SOD 活性来改善肾脏氧化应激。组织病理学检查进一步证实了 Sp 的保护作用。此外，CSA 和/或 γ 辐射触发的肾 caspase-3 表达减少。总之，螺旋藻可以被视为一种有前途的天然肾保护剂，可预防 CSA 和/或 γ 辐射引起的肾损伤。
