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Vol 78, No 4 (2019)
Original article
Submitted: 2019-01-07
Accepted: 2019-02-22
Published online: 2019-03-04
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Thymoquinone and curcumin modify inducible nitric oxide synthase, caspase 3, and thioredoxin immunohistochemical expression in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity

M. Atteya1, A. M. Ahmed1, A. AlRabiah1, T. A. Al-Matrafi1, M. M. Arafah2, S. Al-Saggaf3, S. H. Shereef1, A.- A.H. Ahmed1, H. M. Alqahtani1, R. A.T. Mohammad1
·
Pubmed: 30835338
·
Folia Morphol 2019;78(4):773-788.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  2. Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  3. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

open access

Vol 78, No 4 (2019)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2019-01-07
Accepted: 2019-02-22
Published online: 2019-03-04

Abstract

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is characterised by an extensive oxidative stress due to depletion of glutathione (GSH), which results in massive lipid peroxidation and subsequent liver injury. The current paradigm suggests that mitochondria are the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which impair mitochondrial function and are responsible for cell signalling resulting in cell death. This study was designed to compare the potential impact of thymoquinone (THQ), and/or curcumin (CURC) on liver injury induced by APAP toxicity in rats.

Materials and methods: Serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, and total protein were measured. In addition, liver nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated. Moreover, these biochemical parameters were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations for the expression of thioredoxin, iNOS and caspase 3.

Results: Acetaminophen toxicity elevated most of the above-mentioned parameters but decreased GSH, SOD, and total protein levels. Histologically, liver sections demonstrated liver injury characterised by hepatocellular necrosis with nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis and karyolysis. Immunohistochemical study revealed increased expression of iNOS and caspase 3 proteins, while the thioredoxin protein expression was decreased.

Conclusions: Treatment with the THQ and CURC regulated the biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by APAP toxicity. It was concluded that the combination strategy of THQ and CURC might be considered as a potential antidote in combating liver injury induced by APAP with minimal side effects.

Abstract

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is characterised by an extensive oxidative stress due to depletion of glutathione (GSH), which results in massive lipid peroxidation and subsequent liver injury. The current paradigm suggests that mitochondria are the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which impair mitochondrial function and are responsible for cell signalling resulting in cell death. This study was designed to compare the potential impact of thymoquinone (THQ), and/or curcumin (CURC) on liver injury induced by APAP toxicity in rats.

Materials and methods: Serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, and total protein were measured. In addition, liver nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated. Moreover, these biochemical parameters were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations for the expression of thioredoxin, iNOS and caspase 3.

Results: Acetaminophen toxicity elevated most of the above-mentioned parameters but decreased GSH, SOD, and total protein levels. Histologically, liver sections demonstrated liver injury characterised by hepatocellular necrosis with nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis and karyolysis. Immunohistochemical study revealed increased expression of iNOS and caspase 3 proteins, while the thioredoxin protein expression was decreased.

Conclusions: Treatment with the THQ and CURC regulated the biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by APAP toxicity. It was concluded that the combination strategy of THQ and CURC might be considered as a potential antidote in combating liver injury induced by APAP with minimal side effects.

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Keywords

thymoquinone, curcumin, acetaminophen, hepatotoxicity

About this article
Title

Thymoquinone and curcumin modify inducible nitric oxide synthase, caspase 3, and thioredoxin immunohistochemical expression in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 78, No 4 (2019)

Article type

Original article

Pages

773-788

Published online

2019-03-04

Page views

2494

Article views/downloads

1364

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2019.0027

Pubmed

30835338

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2019;78(4):773-788.

Keywords

thymoquinone
curcumin
acetaminophen
hepatotoxicity

Authors

M. Atteya
A. M. Ahmed
A. AlRabiah
T. A. Al-Matrafi
M. M. Arafah
S. Al-Saggaf
S. H. Shereef
A.- A.H. Ahmed
H. M. Alqahtani
R. A.T. Mohammad

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