Gold Nanoparticles Down-Regulate Alpha Fetoprotein Expression Induced by Meloxicam Hepatotoxicity in Adult Male Albino Rats: Histological and Immunohistochemical Study.

Abstract

Background: Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug most commonly used for the treatment of arthritis. Meloxicam decreases prostaglandin E2 resulting in an increase in free radical concentration within the cell. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced normally by the fetal liver in hepatoblasts. In inflammatory conditions, the adult liver synthesizes AFP by regenerating cells. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the medical field, represent one of the most commonly studied metal nanoparticles which have antioxidant properties.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the possible therapeutic effects of AuNPs on Meloxicam induced degenerative changes in rat liver.

Materials and methods: fifty adult male albino rats were divided into 8 groups: The first group (control); the AuNPs group was treated with AuNPs daily for 2 weeks. The MEL 2w& MEL 2m groups were treated with meloxicam daily for 2 weeks and 2 months respectively. The MEL2w+AuNPs & MEL2m+AuNPs groups received AuNPs for 2 weeks after meloxicam injection daily for 2 weeks and 2 months respectively. The MEL2w+SAL & MEL2m+SAL groups were given meloxicam for 2 weeks and 2 months respectively followed by saline injection for 2 weeks. Histological changes, AuNPs localization in the liver by silver nitrate stain, and AFP immunoexpression were studied.

Results: Time dependent Degenerative changes and increased AFP expression were observed in the liver after meloxicam injection. However, AuNPs ameliorated these changes and decreased AFP expression. AuNPs were detected in Kupffer cells.

Conclusion: AuNPs could ameliorate meloxicam-induced toxicity in the liver and decrease AFP expression because AuNPs act as free radical scavengers which accumulate in Kupffer cells.