Taurine abates the liver damage induced by γ-irradiation in rats through anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways

Abstract

Background

Radiotherapy is the most common regimen for treating human cancers; however, ionizing radiation (IR) has hazardous effects on metabolically active organs such as the liver.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the possible protective (prophylactic and therapeutic) action of taurine against liver damage induced by gamma irradiation at different time intervals as well as the mechanisms by which taurine could provide its potential amelioration actions.

Methods

In this study, 90 adult male rats (∼150 g) were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 is the control group, group 2 received an oral daily dose (500 mg/kg) of taurine for two weeks, group 3 was exposed to a whole-body single dose of γ-irradiation (6 Gy), and groups 4 and 5 received taurine before or after γ-irradiation, respectively. Six rats from each group were sacrificed after 1, 2, and 3 weeks.

Results

Over the period of the 3 weeks studied, there were significant increases in MDA, NO, TNF-α, and cytochrome-c levels and ALT, caspases-9 and -3 activities and significant decreases in GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx in the irradiated group when compared with the relevant control. The liver of irradiated rats showed dilatation in the central and portal veins, edema, and degenerated hepatocytes.

Conclusions

Taken together, IR caused maximum devastation in the liver 2 weeks after exposure as shown by elevation of the inflammatory and apoptotic markers and reducing the antioxidants. Taurine was able to alleviate the deleterious biochemical and histological effects whether given before or after IR. The magnitude of the observed protective effects was in both cases very similar.

Keywords:

• Antioxidants
• apoptosis
• inflammation
• γ-irradiation
• taurine

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Engy F. El-Maraghi

Engy F. El-Maraghi, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Physiology, Radiation Biology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Egypt.

Kamal I. Abdel-Fattah

Kamal I. Abdel-Fattah, Ph.D., is late professor of Physiology, Radiation Biology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Egypt.

Saeed M. Soliman

Saeed M. Soliman, Ph.D., is emeritus professor of Histology, Radiation Biology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Egypt.

Wael M. El-Sayed

Wael M. El-Sayed, Ph.D., is Professor of Physiology and Toxicology, University of Ain Shams, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Egypt.