Dexamethasone provoked mitochondrial perturbations in thymus: Possible role of N-acetylglucosamine in restoration of mitochondrial function.
Thymus mitochondria play a crucial role in immune function. This study identifies the novel protective role of N-Acetylglucosamine (NAG) in dexamethasone (DEX) induced mitochondrial perturbations in mice thymus. Mice were induced with DEX (5mg/kg) and treated with NAG i.p. (266μg/kg, 400μg/kg and 800μg/kg) for 14 days, Withanolide A (800μg/kg) has been used as positive control. Dose dependent treatment of NAG against DEX significantly restored the mitochondrial enzyme levels (ICDH, KDH, SDH and MDH) and elevated the mitochondrial glutathione antioxidants defense (GSH, SOD, GPX and GST) thus improving the ATP status which was confirmed by ultrastructural alterations in mitochondria and nucleus using TEM studies. Further histopathological studies also revealed that NAG attenuate DEX induced thymotoxicity. Finally, the study concludes that dose dependent treatment of NAG supports a potential role in preventing DEX induced thymotoxicity and NAG acts as a beneficial pharmacological intervention in the DEX induced thymic repercussions.
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vels University (VISTAS), Pallavaram, Chennai, India. Electronic address: natu_sea@hotmail.com.
Santhosh Kumar
SK
Venugopalan
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vels University (VISTAS), Pallavaram, Chennai, India.
Shanmugarajan
S
T S
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia; Taylor's University Malaysia, Jan Taylors, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Navaratnam
N
V
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia.
Mansor
M
S M
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia.
Ramanathan
R
S
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000117:Acetylglucosamine
Dexamethasone; N-Acetylglucosamine; Oxidative stress