title: Hepatic Nrf2 expression is altered by quercetin supplementation in X-irradiated rats.
abstract: Whole-body irradiation has been associated with liver function alterations. Ionizing radiation exposure increases oxidative stress and antioxidants can activate transcription of antioxidant target genes. In the present study, modifications of the liver antioxidant system were evaluated at 7 and 30 days following sub-lethal whole-body X-irradiation in male Wistar rats, which were intragastrically supplemented with quercetin or control solvent for 4 days prior to and 6 days following irradiation. Animal groups were as follows: CS, control, solvent-supplemented; CQ, control, quercetin-supplemented; RS, irradiated, solvent-supplemented; and RQ, irradiated, quercetin-supplemented. After 7 days, liver tissue from RS animals demonstrated marked hydropic panlobular degeneration with Mallory bodies in ballooning hepatocytes. These changes were mostly reversed in RQ rats. Lipid peroxidation in addition to copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) protein expression levels were all increased by X-irradiation, but significantly decreased by quercetin supplementation. Catalase (CAT) and
  quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) expression levels remained high in irradiated rats regardless of quercetin supplementation. After 30 days, the liver from RS animals had small portal infiltrates and diffuse cytoplasmic vacuolization, with reduced lipid peroxidation and reduced expression levels of CAT, NQO1, Nrf2 and Keap1, but consistently elevated Cu/Zn-SOD expression. RQ animals indicated reduced expression levels of Nrf2 and Keap1 30 days after irradiation. The present study demonstrated a quercetin-induced reduction of the oxidative stress-associated increase in Nrf2 expression that may be useful for preventing cancer cell survival in response to ionizing radiation exposure.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago de Chile 7500566, Chile.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marina
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of León, León 24071, Spain.
authors.forename: Paquita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, University of León, León 24071, Spain.
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferreras
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain.
authors.forename: Serafín
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of León, León 24071, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Barrio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072019:Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C486610:KEAP1 protein, rat; D000072019:Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D011794:Quercetin