Antigenotoxic effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and its relationship with the endogenous antioxidant system, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine adduct repair (8-OHdG), and apoptosis in mice exposed to chromium(VI)

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between endogenous antioxidant system, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine adduct (8-OHdG) repair, and apoptosis in mice treated with chromium(VI) alone and in the presence of the antigenotoxic compound (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Groups of 5 Hsd:ICR male mice were divided and treated as follows: (1) control, vehicle only; (2) EGCG, 8.5 mg/kg by gavage alone; (3) CrO₃, 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally alone; and (4) EGCG combined with CrO₃, EGCG was administered 4 hr prior to CrO₃. Peripheral blood parameters were analyzed before treatment administration (time 0), and 48 hr after exposure. The administration of EGCG increased 8-OHdG levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Treatment with CrO₃ increased number of micronucleus (MN) presence, elevated apoptotic/necrotic cells frequencies, decreased 8-OHdG levels, diminished total antioxidant capacity (TAC), increased glutathione (GSH) total levels, and lowered SOD activity. Administration of EGCG prior to treatment with CrO₃ resulted in lower concentrations of MN, reduced apoptotic and necrotic cell number, and restored TAC and SOD activity to control levels. It is conceivable that the dose of EGCG plays an important role in the genotoxic damage protection pathways. Thus, this study confirms the action of EGCG as an antigenotoxic agent against chromium(VI)-induced oxidative insults and demonstrates potential protective pathways for EGCG actions to counteract genotoxic damage induced by this metal.

KEYWORDS:

• (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate
• superoxide dismutase
• total antioxidant capacity
• glutathione
• hexavalent chromium
• apoptosis
• 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine
• genotoxic damage

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge with thanks to Alejandro Gordillo-García, PhD, for revising the manuscript. In addition, we would like to extend our thanks to Sam Kacew, PhD, who provided valuable and detailed feedback on an earlier version of the manuscript.

María del Carmen García-Rodríguez http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5970-0835

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56033561500

Mario Altamirano-Lozano http://www.scopus.com/inward/authorDetails.url?authorID=6601969651&partnerID=MN8TOARS

Lourdes Montserrat Hernández-Cortés Doctoral student in Biological Sciences, UNAM. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9330-7869

Gabriela Serrano-Reyes Master of Science Graduate Student.

Conflict interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support was obtained from DGAPA-UNAM, Support Program for Research and Technological Innovation Projects (PAPIIT) [IN224719]