Protective effect of Primula vulgaris against H2O2-induced DNA damage in fibroblast cells

Oxidative stress comes out as a result of an imbalance between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses. ROS besides damaging cellular molecules such as proteins and lipids, can also cause the formation of strand breaks and pyrimidine- and purine-derived lesions in DNA, thus leading to genome destabilization. To protect biomolecules against the attack of free radicals and/or to prevent the damage from happening, numerous natural and synthetic free radical scavengers and antioxidants have been developed and studied. Primula is a plant genius which comprises about 400 species. It is accepted as a good antioxidant source due to its phenolic contents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of the water extract of Primula vulgaris on fibroblast cells exposed to oxidative agents by comet assay. Fibroblast cells (passage number is between 1 and 6) were pre-treated for 1 h with different concentrations (100, 250, and 500 µg/mL) of water extracts Primula vulgaris before the genotoxic agent. Then, the cells were treated with 20 µM H2O2 at 5 minutes and comet assay was performed. The water extracts of Primula vulgaris significantly decreased H2O2-induced DNA damage at the concentrations of 250 and 500 µg/mL (P<0.0001). In conclusion, Primula vulgaris extract demonstrated antigenotoxic activity by protecting cells against oxidative DNA damage

Effect of dexamethasone on unfolded protein response genes (MTJ1, Grp78, Grp94, CHOP, HMOX-1) in HEp2 cell line

505-510The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is related to the various signal routes that are activated in unfolded protein response (UPR). The Grp78, Grp94, CHOP, MTJ1 and HMOX1 genes expressions demonstrate UPR activity. In this study, we investigated the UPR gene expressions in larynx epidermoid carcinoma (HEp2) to which dexamethasone (dex) was applied. HEp2 cells were administered for 48 h with different combinations using 0.1 μM and 1 μM dex, 1 mM phenyl butyric acid (PBA) and 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The Grp78, Grp94, CHOP, MTJ1 and HMOX1 genes expression was determined using quantitative RT-PCR. The Grp78, MTJ1 and HMOX1 gene expression increased with the administration of 1 µM dex. CHOP expression, on the other hand, decreased with 0.1 µM dex. When dex was combined with LPS, nearly all gene expressions decreased. The increase in Grp78, Grp94, HMOX1 and MTJ1 gene expression was greater in groups in which dex was administered in combination with PBA than in groups in which dex was administered alone. <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US">Dex in low dose (0.1 μM) caused a decrease in CHOP expression in HEp2 cells and an increase in Grp78 expression, in particular. The changes in UPR genes expressions may lead to the extended survival of the cells. </span

Effect of free creatine therapy on cisplatin-induced renal damage

Cisplatin is one of the commonly used anticancer drugs and nephrotoxicity limits its use. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible protective effect of creatine supplementation on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Group I: Cisplatin (n = 20) (7 mg/kg cisplatin intraperitoneal (i.p.) single dose), group II: Cisplatin + creatine monohydrate (n = 20) (7 mg/kg cisplatin i.p. single dose and 300 mg/kg creatine p.o. daily for 30 days starting on first day of cisplatin injection), group III: Control group (n = 20) (Serum physiologic, 2.5 mL/kg i.p.). Sacrifications were performed at first week and 30th day. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels, histopathological evaluation, mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) common deletion rates, and body weights of rats were evaluated. A significant decrease in body weight, higher values of kidney function tests, histopathological scores, and mtDNA deletion ratios were observed in group I compared to control group at days 7 and 30 (p<0.05). In group II, there was a slight decrease in body weight at same days (p = 0.931 and 0.084, respectively). Kidney function tests, histopathological scores, and mtDNA common deletion ratios were statistically better in group II than group I at 7th and 30th day (p<0.05). Although creatine significantly reversed kidney functions and pathological findings, this improvement was not sufficient to reach normal control group's results at days 7 and 30. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that creatine administration is a promising adjuvant protective drug for reducing nephrotoxic effect of cisplatin

Telbivudine attenuates gentamicin-induced kidney injury in rats

Nephrotoxicity has been associated with nucleos(t)ide analogues other than telbivudine (LdT). This study investigated the potential effects of LdT and lamivudine (LAM) on renal function in an experimental rat model of gentamicin-induced acute nephrotoxicity. A total of 28 healthy Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: negative control; positive control (PC); LdT; and LAM. Nephrotoxicity was induced by gentamicin in the LdT, LAM and PC groups. LdT and LAM were administered to two groups for 6 weeks starting on the ninth day. Blood samples were collected weekly and cystatin C levels were measured by ELISA. Animals were sacrificed on the 50th day and the kidneys were removed for histological examination. Serum cystatin C levels differed significantly between the LdT and LAM groups (P < 0.007) and between the LdT and PC groups (P < 0.001). Renal function was significantly improved in the LdT group at the start of antiviral treatment on Day 8 and at the end of treatment on Day 50 (P = 0.001 and 0.007). Glomerular injury, acute tubular necrosis and total injury score were significantly reduced in the LdT group relative to the PC and LAM groups upon histopathological examination. LdT was associated with significant improvements in renal function as measured by biochemical and histopathological methods. The acute kidney injury model data should be supported by clinical studies to suggest that LdT treatment may have advantages for patients with underlying chronic kidney disease receiving chronic hepatitis B treatment. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved