Curcumin attenuates malathion-induced lung injury in rats by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis via Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB/TNF-α, and COX-2 pathways.

IF 2.5 4区生物学 Q1 ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY

Tissue & cell Pub Date : 2025-09-16 DOI:10.1016/j.tice.2025.103144

Mamdouh Eldesoqui , Eman M. Embaby , Rania A. Fouad , Yara M. Alrajhi , Zeinab A. Mohammed , Emad A. Albadawi , Rasha Hamed Al‑Serwi , Ahmed A. El-Mansi , Mahmoud Hendawy , Magda E. Ahmed

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background:

Malathion (Mal), a commonly used organophosphate insecticide, causes significant lung damage through oxidative stress, inflammation, and stimulation of pulmonary fibrosis. Curcumin (Cur), a natural polyphenolic molecule, possesses strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic functions.

Objective

This work aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Cur against Mal-induced lung injury in rats by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB/TNF-α, and COX-2 signaling pathways.

Methods

Twenty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: control, Cur-treated (150 mg/kg/day), Mal-treated (100 mg/kg/day), and Mal+Cur (received Cur followed by Mal after 3 h) groups. Both Mal and Cur were administered orally via gavage for four weeks. Oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, and fibrotic alterations were assessed in lung tissues using biochemical and histological methods. The expression of key signaling molecules, including Nrf2/HO-1 (antioxidant response), NF-κB/TNF-α (inflammatory response), and COX-2 (pro-inflammatory enzyme), was measured via immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR.

Results

Compared to the control group, Mal exposure led to marked oxidative damage, evidenced by elevated Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.0001) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels (p < 0.0001). This was accompanied by increased expression of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE2 (p < 0.0001)) and pro-fibrotic (hydroxyproline) markers, and significant histopathological alterations. Co-administration of curcumin significantly attenuated these effects, restoring AChE activity, enhancing Nrf2/HO-1/ antioxidant signaling, and suppressing NF-κB/TNF-α and COX-2 inflammatory pathways.

Conclusion:

These data demonstrate that curcumin protects against malathion-induced lung injury by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis-related pathways, highlighting its therapeutic potential for mitigating organophosphate-induced respiratory damage.

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姜黄素通过Nrf2/HO-1、NF-κB/TNF-α和COX-2通路调节氧化应激、炎症和纤维化，减轻马拉硫磷诱导的大鼠肺损伤。

背景：马拉硫磷（Malathion, Mal）是一种常用的有机磷杀虫剂，可通过氧化应激、炎症和刺激肺纤维化引起显著的肺损伤。姜黄素（Curcumin, Cur）是一种天然多酚类分子，具有很强的抗氧化、抗炎、抗纤维化功能。目的通过调节Nrf2/HO-1、NF-κB/TNF-α和COX-2信号通路，探讨莪术对mal诱导大鼠肺损伤的保护作用。方法将24只成年雄性sd大鼠随机分为4组：对照组、curd组（150 mg/kg/d）、Mal组（100 mg/kg/d）和Mal+Cur组（3 h后分别给予Cur和Mal）。Mal和Cur均经灌胃给予4周。使用生化和组织学方法评估肺组织中的氧化应激标志物、炎症介质和纤维化改变。通过免疫组织化学和定量PCR检测关键信号分子Nrf2/HO-1（抗氧化反应）、NF-κB/TNF-α（炎症反应）、COX-2（促炎酶）的表达。结果与对照组相比，Mal暴露导致明显的氧化损伤，丙二醛（MDA）水平升高（p <； 0.0001），超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）水平降低（p <； 0.0001）。这伴随着促炎（TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6和PGE2 (p <； 0.0001)）和促纤维化（羟脯氨酸）标志物的表达增加，以及显著的组织病理学改变。姜黄素联合使用可显著减弱这些作用，恢复AChE活性，增强Nrf2/HO-1/抗氧化信号，抑制NF-κB/TNF-α和COX-2炎症通路。结论：这些数据表明姜黄素通过调节氧化应激、炎症和纤维化相关途径来保护马拉硫磷诱导的肺损伤，突出了其减轻有机磷诱导的呼吸损伤的治疗潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Tissue & cell 医学-解剖学与形态学

CiteScore

3.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

234

期刊介绍： Tissue and Cell is devoted to original research on the organization of cells, subcellular and extracellular components at all levels, including the grouping and interrelations of cells in tissues and organs. The journal encourages submission of ultrastructural studies that provide novel insights into structure, function and physiology of cells and tissues, in health and disease. Bioengineering and stem cells studies focused on the description of morphological and/or histological data are also welcomed. Studies investigating the effect of compounds and/or substances on structure of cells and tissues are generally outside the scope of this journal. For consideration, studies should contain a clear rationale on the use of (a) given substance(s), have a compelling morphological and structural focus and present novel incremental findings from previous literature.