Anwaar M Shaban, Eman A Ali, Marwa Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, Marwa Omar, Yousra Ali Rohem Al-Ghalban, Eman I El-Gizawy
{"title":"Dapagliflozin and crocin ameliorate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats via activating the Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway: a comparative study.","authors":"Anwaar M Shaban, Eman A Ali, Marwa Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, Marwa Omar, Yousra Ali Rohem Al-Ghalban, Eman I El-Gizawy","doi":"10.1080/08923973.2026.2648210","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Doxorubicin-(DOX-) related cardiotoxicity is a progressive degenerative loss of cardiac muscle mass and strength. This investigation aims to compare the anticipated cardioprotective effects of crocin (Cr) and dapagliflozin (DAPA) against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, and to assess their effects on apoptosis and the Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Forty Wistar male rats were randomly divided into four groups: The control group received distilled water (DW) by oral gavage. The DOX group was given DOX 3 times/week, i.p., 2.5 mg/kg for 3 weeks. The Cr + DOX-treated group was intraperitoneally injected with Cr daily, concomitantly with DOX, for 12 weeks. The DAPA + DOX-treated group received DAPA daily by oral gavage concomitantly with DOX for 12 weeks. Initial fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, vital signs, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded and then repeated monthly throughout the study period. After 12 weeks, biochemical analyses were performed. Moreover, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of cardiac tissue were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>DOX significantly affected FBG and increased oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokines, with hypotension, bradycardia, ECG changes, and downregulation of antioxidant genes (Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1) mRNA. Besides, cardiac biomarkers deteriorated. Administration of either Cr or DAPA resulted in significant improvements in all tested parameters compared with DOX. However, the DAPA + DOX group showed greater improvement, particularly in some parameters.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DAPA is a promising new cardioprotective medication against DOX-related cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity is better controlled with DAPA than Cr by suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and upregulation of the antioxidant Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1 genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13420,"journal":{"name":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","volume":" ","pages":"437-454"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08923973.2026.2648210","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/5/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"IMMUNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Doxorubicin-(DOX-) related cardiotoxicity is a progressive degenerative loss of cardiac muscle mass and strength. This investigation aims to compare the anticipated cardioprotective effects of crocin (Cr) and dapagliflozin (DAPA) against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, and to assess their effects on apoptosis and the Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway.
Materials and methods: Forty Wistar male rats were randomly divided into four groups: The control group received distilled water (DW) by oral gavage. The DOX group was given DOX 3 times/week, i.p., 2.5 mg/kg for 3 weeks. The Cr + DOX-treated group was intraperitoneally injected with Cr daily, concomitantly with DOX, for 12 weeks. The DAPA + DOX-treated group received DAPA daily by oral gavage concomitantly with DOX for 12 weeks. Initial fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, vital signs, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded and then repeated monthly throughout the study period. After 12 weeks, biochemical analyses were performed. Moreover, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of cardiac tissue were conducted.
Results: DOX significantly affected FBG and increased oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokines, with hypotension, bradycardia, ECG changes, and downregulation of antioxidant genes (Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1) mRNA. Besides, cardiac biomarkers deteriorated. Administration of either Cr or DAPA resulted in significant improvements in all tested parameters compared with DOX. However, the DAPA + DOX group showed greater improvement, particularly in some parameters.
Conclusion: DAPA is a promising new cardioprotective medication against DOX-related cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity is better controlled with DAPA than Cr by suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and upregulation of the antioxidant Nrf-2/HO-1/NQO1 genes.
期刊介绍：
The journal Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology is devoted to pre-clinical and clinical drug discovery and development targeting the immune system. Research related to the immunoregulatory effects of various compounds, including small-molecule drugs and biologics, on immunocompetent cells and immune responses, as well as the immunotoxicity exerted by xenobiotics and drugs. Only research that describe the mechanisms of specific compounds (not extracts) is of interest to the journal.
The journal will prioritise preclinical and clinical studies on immunotherapy of disorders such as chronic inflammation, allergy, autoimmunity, cancer etc. The effects of small-drugs, vaccines and biologics against central immunological targets as well as cell-based therapy, including dendritic cell therapy, T cell adoptive transfer and stem cell therapy, are topics of particular interest. Publications pointing towards potential new drug targets within the immune system or novel technology for immunopharmacological drug development are also welcome.
With an immunoscience focus on drug development, immunotherapy and toxicology, the journal will cover areas such as infection, allergy, inflammation, tumor immunology, degenerative disorders, immunodeficiencies, neurology, atherosclerosis and more.
Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology will accept original manuscripts, brief communications, commentaries, mini-reviews, reviews, clinical trials and clinical cases, on the condition that the results reported are based on original, clinical, or basic research that has not been published elsewhere in any journal in any language (except in abstract form relating to paper communicated to scientific meetings and symposiums).
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