Treatment of hepatotoxicity induced by γ-radiation using platelet-rich plasma and/or low molecular weight chitosan in experimental rats

Abstract

Background and aim: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is rich in growth factors and plays an important role in tissue healing and cytoprotection. Also, it has been proved that low molecular weight chitosan (LMC) possesses many outstanding health benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using PRP and/or fungal LMC to treat hepatotoxicity induced by γ-radiation in albino rats.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight adult male albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups. Group I (control), Group II (PRP alone), Group III (LMC alone), Group IV (PRP + LMC), Group V (γ-irradiated alone), Group VI (γ-irradiated + PRP), Group VII (γ-irradiated + LMC), and Group VIII (γ-irradiated + PRP + LMC). The irradiated rats were whole body exposed to γ-radiation (8 Gy) as fractionated doses (2 Gy) twice a week for 2 consecutive weeks. The treated groups received PRP (0.5 mL/kg body weight, s.c.) and/or LMC (10 mg/kg body weight, s.c.) 2 days a week 1 h after every dose of γ-radiation and continued for another week after the last dose of radiation. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) content, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels in the liver tissue and relative expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in serum were measured, in addition to histopathological examination.

Results: Exposure of rats to γ-radiation resulted in a significant increase in serum ALT and AST activities, hepatic MDA levels, and serum miR-21 relative expression, along with a significant decrease in hepatic GSH content, TAC, and Nrf2 levels. Treatment with PRP and/or fungal LMC after exposure to γ-radiation ameliorated these parameters and improved the histopathological changes induced by γ-radiation.

Conclusions: The results demonstrated that PRP and/or LMC inhibited γ-radiation-induced hepatotoxicity and using both of them together seems more effective. They can be a candidate to be studied toward the development of a therapeutic strategy for liver diseases.

Keywords:

• Platelet-rich plasma
• low molecular weight chitosan
• γ-radiation
• hepatotoxicity
• nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
• microRNA-21

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Prof. Adel B. Kholoussy (Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt) for his assistance in examining and interpreting the histopathologic aspects of this work.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mostafa Saif-Elnasr

Mostafa Saif-Elnasr, PhD, is a Lecturer of Biochemistry, Health Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Salma M. Abdel Fattah

Salma M. Abdel Fattah, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Hesham M. Swailam

Hesham M. Swailam, PhD, is a Professor of Microbiology, Radiation Microbiology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.