Background: Meloxicam is an analgesic with higher selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). COX-2 inhibition
induces oxidative stress. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have several medical applications in diagnosing and treating diseases
and have potent free radical scavenging properties.
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the possible therapeutic effect of AuNPs on meloxicam-induced splenic toxicity
at different time points.
Materials and Methods: Forty-five rats were used in this experiment and were divided into eight groups: group I; the control
group. Group II received AuNPs for 2 weeks. Groups III and IV received meloxicam for 2 weeks and 2 months respectively.
Groups V and VI received AuNPs for 2 weeks after receiving meloxicam for 2 weeks and 2 months respectively. Groups VII
and VIII received meloxicam for two weeks and 2 months respectively followed by cessation of treatment for 2 weeks. Both
meloxicam and AuNPs were injected daily intraperitoneally in a dose of 15mg/kg and 50 ul respectively. Histological changes,
AuNPs localization in the spleen by silver nitrate, PCNA immunoexpression to detect cellular proliferation, and LC3 and p62
for detecting autophagy activation were studied.
Results: Time-dependent degenerative histological changes and increased PCNA, LC3, and p62 expression were observed
after meloxicam treatment. However, AuNPs ameliorated these changes.
Conclusions: AuNPs have a therapeutic role against the toxic effects of meloxicam in the spleen which may be due to their
antioxidant activity, in addition to activation of autophagy.