C-phycocyanin attenuates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.
Although cisplatin is a highly effective antineoplastic agent, nephrotoxicity is its major clinical problem. Recently, it was reported that Spirulina, a blue-green algae, has potent antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to establish the possible protective role of C-phycocyanin (PC), one of the active ingredients of Spirulina, against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. This study was carried out using human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells and male C57BL6 mice. Cells and mice were divided into four groups; untreated control group, PC-treated control group, cisplatin-treated group, and PC plus cisplatin-treated group. The molecular, functional, and structural parameters were measured. PC significantly attenuated blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, renal histological damages, and apoptotic cell death in cisplatin-treated mice. The cisplatin-induced cell death was significantly attenuated in cells pretreated with PC. PC also significantly attenuated the elevation of p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-p38 induced by cisplatin treatment. The expression of Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 in cisplatin-treated cells were also decreased by PC treatment. In conclusion, PC ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and, at least in part, suppression of p-ERK, p-JNK, p-p38, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 may be involved in this mechanism.
Department of Pathology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
Beom Jin
BJ
Lim
Jin Young
JY
Jeong
Yoon-Kyung
YK
Chang
Ki-Ryang
KR
Na
Kang Wook
KW
Lee
Young-Tai
YT
Shin
Dae Eun
DE
Choi
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010798:Phycocyanin; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D002945:Cisplatin