title: C-Phycocyanin: an effective protective agent against thymic atrophy by tributyltin.
abstract: Spirulina platensis, used worldwide as a food supplement, is a natural source of protein, vitamins, carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids. C-Phycocyanin (C-Pc), its major biliprotein, is known to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging properties. Our present study showed that treatment with C-Pc protects the rats from Tributyltin (TBT) induced thymic atrophy. The results reveal TBT-induced oxidative stress mediated apoptosis in rat thymocytes in vivo and its attenuation by C-Pc. This ameliorative effect could be attributed to antioxidant activity of the biliprotein. C-Pc also increased TBTC reduced thymic weight and cellularity as well. TBTC-induced ROS generation and lowered GSH levels were restored by C-Pc, suggesting its radical scavenging properties. The various apoptotic determinants such as mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell population were effectively modulated by C-Pc treatment. We make this first observation to illustrate the effectiveness of C-Pc in reducing TBTC-induced thymic atrophy. The morphology of thymic tissue was restored to near normal by this biliprotein. The present study, therefore, suggests that C-Pc could serve as an effective natural antioxidant for efficient management of TBTC induced oxidative damage.
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, P. Box 80, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, India.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Upendra Nath
authors.initials: UN
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.forename: Shashi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001284:Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D010798:Phycocyanin; C011559:tributyltin; D053148:Caspase 3