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165974

Lactoferrin Ameliorates Azithromycin-induced Cardiac Injury: Insight into Oxidative Stress/TLR4 /NF-κB Pathway

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

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-

Tags

Section D: Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology

Abstract

Introduction: Azithromycin, a widely used antibacterial agent, is also considered the cornerstone of the management protocols for COVID-19 infection, particularly in Egypt, due to its antiviral impact and preventive effects against secondary bacterial infections. However, even at pharmacological doses, azithromycin develops rapid cardiac toxicity. Objectives: Our study here aims at investigating the cardioprotective potentials of lactoferrin, a natural compound used primarily for boosting intestinal iron absorption, to counteract azithromycin-induced cardiac toxicity in experimental rats when administered concurrently. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats received either lactoferrin (200 mg/kg/day, orally) or saline for 10 days. Induction of cardiac toxicity was initiated on the 6th day via oral administration of azithromycin (20mg/kg/day, orally) for 5 successive days, concurrently with either lactoferrin or vehicle. Cardiac injuries were confirmed via Electrocardiogram (ECG) recording, assessment of cardiac function biomarkers, assessment of cardiac expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-10, measurement of cardiac oxidant/antioxidant balance, immunohistochemical staining against toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and histopathological examination of HE-stained cardiac specimens. Results: Administration of azithromycin denoted a significant cardiac tissue injury as demonstrated by upregulated serum levels of cardiac biomarkers, namely total creatine Kinase (CK), Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Furthermore, it upregulated cardiac content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and cardiac inflammatory markers, such as TLR4, NF-κB, and IL-1β. Similarly, azithromycin-downregulated reduced glutathione (GSH) cardiac content and the anti-inflammatory protective indicators, IL-10 and Nrf2. Additionally, azithromycin-induced cardiotoxicity was evinced by ECG pattern and histopathologic deterioration. Oral Lactoferrin showed cardioprotective potentials and counteracted the azithromycin-induced cardiac toxicity, downregulating cardiac biomarkers. Moreover, it restored cardiac oxidant/antioxidant balance, decreased cardiac TLR4, NF-κB, and IL-1β expression, and increased IL-10 and Nrf2 expression. Lactoferrin Cardioprotective potentials were also evinced by enhanced ECG pattern and histopathological examination. Conclusion: Finally, we support the use of lactoferrin with azithromycin intake that induced cardiac toxicity.

DOI

10.21608/aprh.2021.62735.1122

Keywords

Azithromycin, Lactoferrin, NF-κB, TLR4, IL-10

Authors

First Name

Manar

Last Name

Helal

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Email

manargamal2008@gmail.com

City

Mansoura

Orcid

-

First Name

Mohamed

Last Name

Shawky

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University, Egypt.

Email

mohamedshawky1@gmail.com

City

New Damietta

Orcid

-

First Name

Shady

Last Name

Elhusseiny

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Email

dodybasha86@gmail.com

City

Mansoura

Orcid

-

First Name

Ahmed

Last Name

Abd Elhameed

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Mansoura University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egypt.

Email

ahmed_gamal_helal@mans.edu.eg

City

Mansoura

Orcid

0000-0002-3899-6865

Volume

5

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

24440

Issue Date

2021-04-01

Receive Date

2021-02-11

Publish Date

2021-04-01

Page Start

285

Page End

296

Print ISSN

2357-0547

Online ISSN

2357-0539

Link

https://aprh.journals.ekb.eg/article_165974.html

Detail API

https://aprh.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=165974

Order

4

Type

Research Article

Type Code

318

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Research

Publication Link

https://aprh.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

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Details

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023