Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters

Methotrexate (MTX) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against a wide range of tumors and autoimmune diseases; however, hepatotoxicity limits its clinical use. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. Paeonol is a natural phenolic c...

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Main Authors: Mohamed A. Morsy, Rania Abdel-Latif, Sara Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez, Mahmoud Kandeel, Seham A. Abdel-Gaber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/10/1296
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author Mohamed A. Morsy
Rania Abdel-Latif
Sara Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez
Mahmoud Kandeel
Seham A. Abdel-Gaber
author_facet Mohamed A. Morsy
Rania Abdel-Latif
Sara Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez
Mahmoud Kandeel
Seham A. Abdel-Gaber
author_sort Mohamed A. Morsy
collection DOAJ
description Methotrexate (MTX) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against a wide range of tumors and autoimmune diseases; however, hepatotoxicity limits its clinical use. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. Paeonol is a natural phenolic compound reported for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effect of paeonol against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats and various mechanisms that underlie this postulated effect. Paeonol was administered orally in a dose of 100 mg/kg, alone or along with MTX, for 10 days. Hepatotoxicity was induced via a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on day 5 of the experiment. Concomitant administration of paeonol with MTX significantly ameliorated distorted hepatic function and histological structure, restored hepatic oxidative stress parameters (MDA, NO, and SOD), and combated inflammatory response (iNOS and TNF-α). Additionally, paeonol enhanced cell proliferation and survival, evidenced by upregulating the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and suppressing apoptosis and the disposition of collagen fibers in rat livers treated with MTX. Importantly, paeonol upregulated the drug efflux transporters, namely P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp-2) in MTX-treated rats. In conclusion, paeonol offered a potent protective effect against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity through suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis pathways, along with P-gp and Mrp-2 upregulation.
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spelling doaj.art-5668148120324b16b6a3bcfd703311292023-11-24T01:52:51ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472022-10-011510129610.3390/ph15101296Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux TransportersMohamed A. Morsy0Rania Abdel-Latif1Sara Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez2Mahmoud Kandeel3Seham A. Abdel-Gaber4Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, El-Minia 61511, EgyptDepartment of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, El-Minia 61511, EgyptDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, El-Minia 61511, EgyptMethotrexate (MTX) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against a wide range of tumors and autoimmune diseases; however, hepatotoxicity limits its clinical use. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. Paeonol is a natural phenolic compound reported for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effect of paeonol against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats and various mechanisms that underlie this postulated effect. Paeonol was administered orally in a dose of 100 mg/kg, alone or along with MTX, for 10 days. Hepatotoxicity was induced via a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on day 5 of the experiment. Concomitant administration of paeonol with MTX significantly ameliorated distorted hepatic function and histological structure, restored hepatic oxidative stress parameters (MDA, NO, and SOD), and combated inflammatory response (iNOS and TNF-α). Additionally, paeonol enhanced cell proliferation and survival, evidenced by upregulating the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and suppressing apoptosis and the disposition of collagen fibers in rat livers treated with MTX. Importantly, paeonol upregulated the drug efflux transporters, namely P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp-2) in MTX-treated rats. In conclusion, paeonol offered a potent protective effect against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity through suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis pathways, along with P-gp and Mrp-2 upregulation.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/10/1296methotrexatehepatotoxicitypaeonoloxidative stressinflammationP-gp
spellingShingle Mohamed A. Morsy
Rania Abdel-Latif
Sara Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez
Mahmoud Kandeel
Seham A. Abdel-Gaber
Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters
Pharmaceuticals
methotrexate
hepatotoxicity
paeonol
oxidative stress
inflammation
P-gp
title Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters
title_full Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters
title_fullStr Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters
title_full_unstemmed Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters
title_short Paeonol Protects against Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity by Repressing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis—The Role of Drug Efflux Transporters
title_sort paeonol protects against methotrexate hepatotoxicity by repressing oxidative stress inflammation and apoptosis the role of drug efflux transporters
topic methotrexate
hepatotoxicity
paeonol
oxidative stress
inflammation
P-gp
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/10/1296
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