Dawood Asmaa F A, Fouad Salwa A, Alharbi Hanan M, El-Aal Mohamed Abd, Elkhateeb Mohammed I, Ali Zain El Abdeen, Welson Nermeen N, Sayed Leila H
Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alhasa, Saudi Arabia.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2025 Aug 25. doi: 10.1007/s12011-025-04749-0.
The current aim was to evaluate the protective effects of chitosan nanoparticles against cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)-induced hepatic and renal toxicity and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms with a focus on the modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB/iNOS signaling pathways. Four groups were used: group I (control), group II (CS-NPs), group III (CdCl), and group IV (CdCl + CS-NPs). Biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical studies of hepatorenal parameters were performed. Cadmium showed renal dysfunction (increased creatinine and urea), hepatic dysfunction (elevated ALT, AST, and ALP), and disturbed oxidative homeostasis (elevated MDA and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities; SOD, CAT, and GPx in the liver and kidney). The pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly increased in tissues. In addition, cadmium displayed histopathological alterations in the architecture of the kidney and liver, elevated the expression levels of caspase-3, NF-κB, and iNOS, and decreased Nrf2 and HO-1. Interestingly, CS-NPs significantly restored kidney function, liver function, and oxidative homeostasis. CS-NPs also reduced pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β), restored renal and hepatic architecture, decreased the expression levels of caspase-3, NF-κB, and iNOS, and increased Nrf2 and HO-1 levels. Therefore, cadmium caused hepatorenal toxicity by causing oxidative stress and affecting NF-κB/iNOS and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. These findings demonstrate that chitosan nanoparticles effectively alleviate cadmium-induced renal and hepatic injury through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms by modulating Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB/iNOS pathways. Chitosan nanoparticles may represent a promising nanotherapeutic approach against heavy metal-induced organ toxicity.
当前的目标是评估壳聚糖纳米颗粒对氯化镉(CdCl₂)诱导的肝毒性和肾毒性的保护作用,并阐明其潜在机制,重点是通过Nrf2/HO-1和NF-κB/iNOS信号通路调节氧化应激、炎症和细胞凋亡。实验分为四组:第一组(对照组)、第二组(壳聚糖纳米颗粒组)、第三组(氯化镉组)和第四组(氯化镉+壳聚糖纳米颗粒组)。对肝肾参数进行了生化、组织病理学和免疫组织化学研究。镉导致肾功能障碍(肌酐和尿素升高)、肝功能障碍(谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶和碱性磷酸酶升高)以及氧化稳态紊乱(丙二醛升高,抗氧化酶活性降低;肝脏和肾脏中的超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶)。组织中促炎细胞因子白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)显著增加。此外,镉使肾脏和肝脏的组织结构发生组织病理学改变,提高了半胱天冬酶-3、NF-κB和诱导型一氧化氮合酶的表达水平,并降低了Nrf2和HO-1的水平。有趣的是,壳聚糖纳米颗粒显著恢复了肾功能、肝功能和氧化稳态。壳聚糖纳米颗粒还降低了促炎介质(IL-6、TNF-α和IL-1β),恢复了肾脏和肝脏的结构,降低了半胱天冬酶-3、NF-κB和诱导型一氧化氮合酶的表达水平,并提高了Nrf2和HO-1的水平。因此,镉通过引起氧化应激并影响NF-κB/iNOS和Nrf2/HO-1通路导致肝肾毒性。这些发现表明,壳聚糖纳米颗粒通过调节Nrf2/HO-1和NF-κB/iNOS通路,通过抗氧化、抗炎和抗凋亡机制有效减轻镉诱导的肾损伤和肝损伤。壳聚糖纳米颗粒可能代表一种针对重金属诱导的器官毒性有前景的纳米治疗方法。
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