Background: Cadmium (Cd) is considered a health hazard due to its industrial use. Lungs and kidneys are the primary organs
affected by its toxicity. Inflammatory response in lung tissue is mediated by Cd exposure until it becomes dysfunctional. Cd
damages DNA indirectly by increasing reactive oxygen species generation, which interacts with DNA defense system leading
to genomic instability. Curcumin (C) has multiple health benefits, as well as its Nano-formulation, Nano-curcumin (NC),
which has potential to increase biological and pharmacological actions of curcumin.
Aim: To focus on Cd-mediated inflammatory response and cell apoptosis in lung tissue of adult male albino rat and use NC as
a potential therapeutic agent.
Methods and methods: Thirty adult albino male rats were split into three groups, each with ten rats: control (group I), Cd
treated (group II), and Cd+NC treated (group III). Rats were sacrificed and lungs were extracted for light microscopic and
ultra-structural examination. IL-6 and TNF-α concentration were estimated and lung cellular survival genes; Bax and Bcl2
expression was evaluated by PCR.
Results: Alveolar damage with loss of normal lung architecture were seen in H&E-stained sections of group II confirmed by
ultrastructural investigation revealing cellular cytoplasmic vacuolations with degenerated mitochondria. In group II, IL-6,
TNF-α and Bax gene were increased, whereas Bcl2 gene was decreased with increased Bax/Bcl-2 genes ratio expression.
NC treated group showed cellular restoration, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased Bax/Bcl-2 genes ratio
expression.
Conclusions: NC can be taken as a medicinal supplement to ease Cd poisoning risk in lungs.