Citicoline modulates inflammatory signaling pathways in the spleen of rats exposed to gamma-radiation

Abstract

Background and aim

The spleen has an essential role in immune responses regulation and is considered the biggest peripheral immune organ. Citicoline is used for various brain disorders management. This study aimed to examine the using possibility of citicoline to treat γ-radiation-induced splenic inflammation in rats.

Materials and methods

Eighteen male albino rats were classified into: Group 1 (control) animals were kept as control. Group 2 (γ-radiation) animals were total-body γ-irradiated with 6 Gy. Group 3 (γ-radiation + citicoline) rats were γ-irradiated with 6 Gy, then injected intraperitoneally with citicoline (300 mg/kg/d) 5 min after irradiation for one week. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, NF-κB, JAK2, and STAT3 were determined in spleen tissue, along with histopathological examination.

Results

Rats exposure to gamma-radiation led to elevation in splenic TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB, iNOS, JAK2, and STAT3 levels significantly. Treatment with citicoline after gamma-radiation exposure improved this elevation, and modulated gamma-radiation-induced histopathological alterations.

Conclusions

This data showed that citicoline inhibited γ-radiation-induced splenic inflammation via suppressing NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways in spleen tissue.

Keywords:

• Spleen
• citicoline
• γ-radiation
• inflammation
• NF-κB
• JAK2/STAT3

Acknowledgments

All authors are thankful to Prof. Sayed Abdel Raheem (Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt) for helping in investigating as well as interpreting the study histopathologic aspects.

Disclosure statement

All authors state that they have no interest conflict.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.