Antioxidant capacity of N-acetylcysteine against the molecular and cytotoxic implications of cadmium chloride leading to hepatotoxicity and vital progression.

Many studies have reported that cadmium (Cd) can induce liver cell injury; however, the toxicity mechanisms of Cd on the liver have not been fully explained. Thirty-two male albino rats were divided into four groups: the control group, the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group orally as effervescent instant sachets with a concentration of 200 mg dissolved in distilled water and dosage was 200 mg/kg body weight freshly prepared, the cadmium chloride (CdCl2) group (treated with 3 mg/kg orally), and the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) + cadmium chloride group (treated with 200 mg/kg orally post to CdCl2) for 60 days. The NAC alone did not make notable changes in most of the parameters. The CdCl2 alone, compared to control, induced significant alterations in oxidative stress markers (increment in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO)) and antioxidant defense system (decrement in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), which resulted in a downregulation of pro-apoptotic Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 and upregulation of anti-apoptotic B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) protein as well as the survival fate of hepatic cells. Post-administration of NAC to CdCl2 resulted in a reduction in oxidative stress markers, shifting of cells from the G2/M phase to the G0/G1 inhibiting signal-regulated kinase activation, and impairment of the anti-apoptotic signaling pathway when compared to the CdCl2 group alone. Accordingly, the Bcl2/Bax ratio was reduced to 1.17-fold change, as an adaptive process to hepatic tissue injury. These findings demonstrated that NAC would attenuate the possibility of oxidative stress and cytotoxicity of hepatic tissue induced by CdCl2.

N-Acetylcysteine Reduces miR-146a and NF-κB p65 Inflammatory Signaling Following Cadmium Hepatotoxicity in Rats.

We performed a thorough screening and analysis of the impact of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the miR146a/NF-κB p65 inflammatory pathway and mitochondrial biogenesis dysfunction in male albino rats. A total of 24 male albino rats were divided into three groups: a control group, a CdCl2-treated group (3 mg/kg, orally), and a CdCl2 + NAC-treated group (200 mg/kg of NAC, 1 h after CdCl2 treatment), for 60 consecutive days. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression of miR146a, Irak1, Traf6, Nrf1, Nfe2l2, Pparg, Prkaa, Stat3, Tfam, Tnfa, and Il1b, whereas tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, and cyclooxygenase-2 protein levels were assessed using ELISA, and NF-κB p65 was detected using western blotting. A significant restoration of homeostatic inflammatory processes as well as mitochondrial biogenesis was observed after NAC and CdCl2 treatment. Decreased miR146a and NF-κB p65 were also found after treatment with NAC and CdCl2 compared with CdCl2 treatment alone. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CdCl2 caused mtDNA release because of Tfam loss, leading to NF-κB p65 activation. Co-treatment with NAC could alleviate Cd-induced genotoxicity in liver tissue. We concluded that adding NAC to CdCl2 resulted in a decreased signaling of the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.

Protocatechuic acid mitigates cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in rats: Role of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), is associated with extremely adverse impacts to living systems. Antioxidant agents are suggested to eliminate Cd intoxication. In this paper, we investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA) against Cd-induced neuronal damage in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, PCA (100 mg/kg)-treated, CdCl2 (6.5 mg/kg)-treated, and PCA and Cd treatment groups. Pre-treatment with PCA significantly reduced Cd concentrations and increased cortical acetylcholinesterase activity and brain derived neurotrophic factor. Additionally, PCA also prevented CdCl2-induced oxidative stress in the cortical tissue by preventing lipid peroxidation and the formation of nitric oxide (NO), and significantly enhancing antioxidant enzymes. Molecularly, PCA significantly up-regulated the antioxidant gene expression (Sod2, Cat, Gpx1, and Gsr) that was down-regulated by Cd. It should be noted that this effect was achieved by targeting the nuclear-related factor 2 (Nfe2l2) mRNA expression. PCA also prevented the Cd-induced inflammation by reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß. Moreover, PCA supplementation relieved the Cd-induced neuronal death by increasing Bcl-2 and decreasing Bax and Cas-3 levels in the cortical tissue. The improvement of the cortical tissue histopathology by PCA confirmed the biochemical and molecular data. Collectively, our findings indicate that PCA can counteract Cd-induced cortical toxicity by enhancing the antioxidant defense system and suppressing inflammation and apoptosis.

Exposure to arsenite and cadmium induces organotoxicity and miRNAs deregulation in male rats.

Sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) are two prime examples of un-biodegradable compounds that accumulate in the ecosystems causing great threats to human health and produce severe adverse effects. However, their joint toxicities are poorly understood in mammals. This study aimed to identify the effect of exposure to NaAsO2 (5 mg/kg, by oral gavage) and CdCl2 (1 mg/kg injected interperitoneal, i.p.) either alone or in combinations after 14 and 28 days on oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme activities, and histopathological changes. The results revealed a downregulation of miR-146a also, in miR-let7a after 14 days and a notable upregulation after 28 days. However, administrations of their combinations for 14 days caused downregulated miR-146a and miR-let7a. However, upregulation miR-let7a was observed only after 28 days. Organotoxicity of liver results in a remarkable increase in oxidative stress biomarkers by the two metals either alone or in combinations. A remarkable decrease was noted in an antioxidant enzyme activity indicating a defect in the antioxidant defense system. Also, CdCl2 alone showed remarkable liver histopathological changes. This study concluded that there was a close relationship of high epigenetic changes as deregulation of both miR-146a and miR-let7a as a result of the joint toxicity of both compounds, and ultimately major changes in hepatic tissues that may lead to cell transformations. However, further studies are needed to investigate the target genes for those miRNAs.

MicroRNAs in prostate cancer: From function to biomarker discovery.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a small functional non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression through mRNA degradation or translational repression. miRNAs are key regulatory components of various cellular networks. Current evidence support that multiple mammalian genome-encoded miRNAs impact the cellular biology, including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and tumorigenesis, by targeting specific subsets of mRNAs. This minireview is focused on the current themes underlying the interactions between miRNAs and their mRNA targets and pathways in prostate tumorigenesis and progression, and their potential clinical utility as biomarkers for prostate cancer. Impact statement The primary goal of this article was to review recent literature on miRNA biogenesis and further elaborate on the identity of newly discovered miRNAs and their potential functional significance in the complex biological network associated with prostate tumorigenesis and disease progression and as biomarkers for prostate cancer.

Efficacy of glutathione-S-transferase purified antigen of the gastro-intestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus in diagnosis of sheep haemonchosis.

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most pathogenic and economically important parasites of sheep. Different H. contortus antigens; crude somatic antigen (CSA), excretory/secretory antigen (ESA), crude larval antigen (CLA), glutathione-S-transferase antigen (GST) and recombinant protein (rhcp 26/23) were prepared and characterized using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blot. The antigens were immunologically evaluated through indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of haemonchosis in experimentally and naturally infected sheep. Analysis of the resultant bands of SDS-PAGE demonstrated that 13, 6, 11, 2 and 1 protein bands from CSA, ESA, CLA, GST and rhcp 26/23, respectively and analysis of the resultant bands of western blot showed that 13, 6, 4 and 1 reactive bands detected from CSA, ESA, CLA and GST, respectively. The results of ELISA of different antigens revealed that sero-prevelance of CSA, ESA, CLA, GST and rhcp 26/23 were 78.51, 82.34, 85.319, 45.319 and 90.8% respectively, sensitivity were 100, 90, 100, 96.66 and 90%, respectively and specificity were 0, 70, 10, 70 and 6.66%, respectively with diagnostic potency were 50, 80, 55, 83.33 and 48.33%, respectively. Statistical analysis using Chi square test found that GST is the best one that can be used. The cross reactivity of GST antigen, crude Fasciola antigen and crude Moniezia antigen tested versus their homologous hyper immune sera at different dilutions using ELISA. The current study reported that GST antigen could be considered as a promising antigen for diagnosis of haemonchosis.

Identification of microRNA signature and potential pathway targets in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American men. Early diagnosis is a prerequisite to improving therapeutic benefits. However, the current clinical biomarkers for PC do not reliably decipher indolent PC from other urogenital disorders. Thus, effective clinical intervention necessitates development of new biomarkers for early detection of PC. The present study aimed to identify the miRNA signature in organ-confined (Gleason Score 6) prostate tumors. MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) array analysis identified 118 upregulated and 73 downregulated miRNAs in microdissected tumors in comparison to matched neighboring normal prostate epithelium. The miRs-Plus-A1083, -92b-5p, -18a-3p, -19a-3p, -639, -3622b-3p, -3189-3p, -155-3p, -410, -1179, 548b-5p, and -4469 are predominantly expressed (7-11-fold), whereas miRs-595, 4490, -3120-5p, -1299, -21-5p, -3677-3, -let-7b-5p, -5189, 3-121-5p, -4518, -200a-5p, -3682-5p, -3689d, -3149 represent the most downregulated (12-113-fold) miRNAs in microdissected prostate tumors. The array expression profile of selected miRNA signature and their potential mRNA targets was validated by qRT-PCR analysis in PC cell lines. Integrated in silico and computational prediction analyses demonstrated that the dysregulated miRNA signature map to key regulatory factors involved in tumorigenesis, including cell cycle, apoptosis, and p53 pathways. The newly identified miRNA signature has potential clinical utility as biomarkers, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic targets for early detection of PC. Further studies are needed to assess the functional significance and clinical usefulness of the identified miRNAs. Impact Statement To our knowledge his is the first study of identifying miRNA signatures in microdissected indolent (Gleason score 6) prostate cancer in comparison to matched normal prostate epithelium. By employing in silico and computational prediction analysis, the study provides a landscape of potential miRNA targets and key cellular pathways involved in prostate tumorigenesis. Identification if miRNAs and their relevant targets and pathways pave the way for underpinning their mechanistic role of miRNAs in human prostate tumorigenesis, and possibly other human cancers. Importantly, the outcome of the study has important clinical implications for the management of prostate cancer, including the use of miRNA(s) as biomarkers for early detection of prostate cancer.

Testing the genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress of cadmium and nickel and their additive effect in male mice.

The present study was aimed to investigate the ability of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) to induce genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress in bone marrow cells of male mice. Aneuploidy and chromosomal aberrations (CA) showed that Cd is a stronger mutagen than Ni. Cd and Ni increased significantly the incidences of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). Also, the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes (PCE/NCE) suggests that treatment with higher doses of the two metals increased the cytotoxicity. Numerical chromosomal aberrations increased hypoploidy with the treatment which reached two to three times of the frequency of hyperploidy. The results showed that both Cd and Ni are aneugenic that act on kinetochores and cause malsegregation of chromosomes as well as being clastogenic. Both Cd and Ni increased single-break aberrations and also Cd and Ni were found to induce significant DNA damage in mouse bone marrow cells as assessed by the comet assay. In addition to the cytotoxicity results, biochemical analysis in bone marrow revealed a dose-dependent increase of oxidative stress markers. According to the results obtained, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity effects of cadmium and nickel in vivo are dose-dependent and are associated with oxidative stress and their combined effect is less than their expected additive effect, and it could be concluded that there are no synergistic effects resulting from the combined application of both metals.