Curcumin Ameliorates Lead-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation, and Modulating Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway.
Ahlam AlhusainiLaila FaddaIman H HasanEnas ZakariaAbeer M AlenaziAyman Moawad MahmoudPublished in: Biomolecules (2019)
Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant with adverse effects on the liver and other body organs. Curcumin (CUR) is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric and possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study explored the protective effect of CUR on Pb hepatotoxicity with an emphasis on oxidative stress, inflammation and Akt/GSK-3β signaling. Rats received lead acetate and CUR and/or ascorbic acid (AA) for seven days and samples were collected for analyses. Pb(II) induced liver injury manifested by elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as histopathological alterations, including massive hepatocyte degeneration and increased collagen deposition. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, TNF-α and DNA fragmentation were increased, whereas antioxidant defenses were diminished in the liver of Pb(II)-intoxicated rats. Pb(II) increased hepatic NF-κB and JNK phosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage, whereas Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation was decreased. CUR and/or AA ameliorated liver function, prevented tissue injury, and suppressed oxidative stress, DNA damage, NF-κB, JNK and caspase-3. In addition, CUR and/or AA activated Akt and inhibited GSK-3β in Pb(II)-induced rats. In conclusion, CUR prevents Pb(II) hepatotoxicity via attenuation of oxidative injury and inflammation, activation of Akt and inhibition of GSK-3β. However, further studies scrutinizing the exact role of Akt/GSK-3β signaling are recommended.
Keyphrases
- signaling pathway
- oxidative stress
- heavy metals
- induced apoptosis
- pi k akt
- diabetic rats
- dna damage
- drug induced
- epithelial mesenchymal transition
- risk assessment
- ischemia reperfusion injury
- health risk assessment
- liver injury
- nitric oxide
- aqueous solution
- health risk
- anti inflammatory
- cell death
- sewage sludge
- high glucose
- mouse model
- cell proliferation
- endothelial cells
- hydrogen peroxide
- density functional theory
- nitric oxide synthase
- transcription factor
- heat shock
- cell free
- toll like receptor