Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 12, Issue 4, 53-62Original Article

MODULATORY EFFECTS OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED MESENCHMAL STEM CELLS ON CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN CARCINOMA MICE

ASMAA MAGDY ZAAZAA1*, BOSY AZMY ABD EL-MOTELP1

1Assistant Professor of Physiology at Department of Zoology, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Asmaa Fahmy Street Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Email: asmaa.zaazaa@women.asu.edu.eg

Received: 23 Jan 2020, Revised and Accepted: 04 Mar 2020

ABSTRACT

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is a chemotherapeutic agent, induces hepatotoxicity as one of its side effects. Therefore, the present work was designed to investigate the protective role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on CPA–induced hepatotoxicity in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma bearing-mice (EAC) and to test whether BM-MSCs influences the antitumor properties of the CPA.

Methods: The hepatoprotective effects of BM-MSCs (single dose of 100 µl of a cell suspension containing allogenic BM-MSCs, i. v.) was evaluated in a model of hepatotoxicity by CPA (10 mg/kg/d i. p.) in EAC-female mice for one month. The anti-tumor activities of CPA and BM-MSCs were assessed by measuring mean tumor weight, mean survival time and the increase in life span. Moreover, ALT, AST, GGT, MDA, GSH, SOD, IL-6, IL10, caspase-3 and Bcl2 were measured.

Results: The i. p. administration of CPA and BM-MSCs resulted in significant reductions in tumor size and mean tumor weight as well as caused concurrent significant increases in the life span as compared to the EAC mice. Furthermore, BM-MSCs ameliorated the liver enzyme markers namely ALT, AST, GGT, and hepatic oxidative stress through inhibition of MDA level that correlated with significant improvement in antioxidant status via increasing GSH and SOD levels as compared to both EAC and EAC+CPA groups. Moreover, BM-MSCs treatment significantly reduced the inflammatory marker level IL-6 as well as increment the level of IL-10 with subsequent decreases apoptosis via a depletion in the caspase-3 associated with an enhancement in the level of Bcl2 as compared to EAC group and EAC+CPA group. Minor histological lesions were observed in the liver tissue sections of mice treated with CPA and BM-MSCs as compared to the high histological lesions observed in the liver of the EAC group and CPA treated group.

Conclusion: These results concluded that the combination treatment of BM-MSCs with CPA exhibited promising potential antitumor efficacy with greater safety than CPA treatment alone in mice via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects.

Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, Ehrlich, Oxidative stress, Inflammation, Apoptosis

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2020v12i4.36916. Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijpps

INTRODUCTION

Cancer is one of the greatest serious diseases everywhere throughout the world. Cancer therapy and its managing depend fundamentally on the utilization of chemotherapeutic agents. These agents mainly target the rapidly proliferating neoplastic cells in cancer patients. But chemotherapy is always associated with a severe form of toxic manifestations [1]. Solid and the ascetic types of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) are undifferentiated tumors usually used to assess different lines of cancer therapeutics [2].

Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is used as a chemotherapeutic drug [3]. Numerous antineoplastic conventions require high doses of CPA that are correlated with acute side effects, such as hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and immunotoxicity [4]. Preceding studies have exhibited that CPA could produce substantial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and add to succeeding raised concentrations of highly cytotoxic oxidative stress-resulting lipid peroxidation aldehydes, such as acrolein and malondialdehyde (MDA) [5]. CPA was demonstrated that the imponderables among oxidant and antioxidant condition lead to the creation of pro-inflammatory mediators which participate in liver damage after CPA injection [6]. Hepatotoxicity has been recorded in patients injected intravenously with a low dose of CPA [7]. Preceding studies have indicated that liver toxicity is a significant issue related to cyclophosphamide application [8].

Antioxidant agents are believed useful to alleviate oxidative stress. In like manner, a blend of a treatment program with potent and safe antioxidants could be an advantageous approach to lessen CPA-induced toxicity [9]. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that were initially isolated from the bone marrow (BM-MSCs). BM-MSCs can differentiate into cells of the 3 germ layers, including endothelial cells of blood vessels, smooth muscle cells, adipocytes, nerve cells, chondrocytes, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes. Furthermore, they can reduce the immune response brought about by T lymphocytes in allogeneic transplantation [10]. The therapeutic effects of transplanted MSCs have been associated with the following mechanisms: (1) differentiation to parenchymal cell; (2) production of trophic features that encourage proliferation and differentiation of local progenitor cells; (3) neovascularization; and (4) immunomodulation [11].

Therefore, the present work was designed to investigate the protective role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on CPA induced hepatotoxicity in EAC mice and to test whether BM-MSCs influences the antitumor properties of the CPA.

MATERIALS AND METHODES

Chemicals

CPA was supplied from Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Co., (USA) and was prepared in sterile physiological saline (SPS). All the other chemicals were of high purity grade in agreement with international standards.

Animals

Because Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cells were stated to demonstrate greater initial growth and total cell count in female mice than male mice [12]. Thus, the current study carries out on female mice that were acquired from the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University.

Animals Six to eight-week-old female BALB/c mice with an average body weight of 25-30g were used and were supplied from the Animal House Colony of the National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt. The mice were left for one week before to the experiments initiated to adapt to the animal house environments under normal dark/light cycle and were provided diets and water ad libitum. The experimental protocols were carried out corresponding to the guidelines for the animal experiment, which was approved by the Ethical Committee of Medical Research of National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt (registration number: 13/165).

Tumor cell line

The Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells were obtained from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) (Cairo, Egypt). The initial inoculation of EAC cells was kindly supplied by the National Cancer Institute (Cairo University, Egypt). EAC cells were thereafter propagating in our laboratory by weekly intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 2.5 x 106 cells per mouse, which was carried out according to the method recommended by the Egyptian National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. Cells were counted before injection using the bright-line hemocytometer and dilutions were made by physiological saline, and the desired number of cells was injected in a volume of 0.5 ml per mouse.

Cell viability

On the 7th day of the initial inoculation of EAC, ascitic fluid was collected and subjected to a trypan blue dye exclusion method for estimation of cell viability [13]. The number of viable cells (unstained) was counted under a microscope and average from 5 squares was taken. The cells which took trypan blue were deemed non-viable (fig. 1). The concentration of viable cells (expressed as follows: C= T x D x 104), where C= concentration of viable cells/ml, and T= Average no. of viable cells per square, and D= dilution factor.

Fig. 1: (a) Showing the culture of EAC in vivo (in abdominal cavity of female mouse). (b) Showing the normal EAC cells X200

Preparation and isolation of BM-derived MSCs

Bone marrow was collected by flushing the tibiae and femurs of 6 w old male Wistar rats with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Bone marrow cells were plated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Nucleated cells were isolated with a density gradient and resuspended in complete culture medium supplemented with 1% penicillin-streptomycin. Cells were incubated at 37 °C in 5% humidified CO2 for 12e14 d as primary culture or upon the formation of large colonies. When large colonies developed (80e90% confluence), cultures were washed twice with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (pH 7) and the cells were trypsinized with 0.25% trypsin in 1 mmol EDTA for 5 min at 37 °C. After centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 min, cells were re-suspended in serum-supplemented medium and incubated in 50 cm2 culture flasks. The resulting cultures were referred to as first-passage cultures [14]. Cells were identified as being MSCs by their morphology or fusiform shape, adherence [15] and Florescent Analysis Cell Sorting (FACS) by detection of CD29+, CD90+, and CD34-specific to MSCs.

FACS analysis

Following short centrifugation, cells were re-suspended in wash buffer (BD Biosciences, Germany). 300 ml of cell suspension was incubated with antibodies compared to CD29, CD34 and CD90 conjugated with Allophycocyanin (APC), Cyanine 5 (CY5), Phycoerythrin (PE) and Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) dyes respectively for 45 min at room temperature. Flow cytometry was executed on a FACS Caliber (BD Biosciences, Germany) and Cell Quest software was sourced for analysis.

Tracking of stem cells

MSCs cells were gathered through the 4th passage. Then, cells were trypsinized and were placed into a single cell suspension. 2 x 107 single cells were placed in a falcon tube, washed once applying culture medium free of serum then cells were centrifuged (400xg) for 5 min. Finally, cells were labeled with PKH26 fluorescent linker dye (according to the manufacturer's protocol) and examined using fluorescence microscopy (Sigma-Aldrich, Saint Louis, USA).

Ehrlich solid carcinoma induction

Ehrlich Solid Carcinoma (ESC) was induced into forty female mice using Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells obtained from the ascitic fluid of female mice bearing EAC. On day zero about 2.5 × 106 viable EAC cells present in 0.2 ml of diluted ascitic fluid (1:10) with saline was injected intramuscularly in the left thigh of each mouse to induce solid tumors [16].

Experimental protocol

Anti-tumor studies

The anti-tumor activities of CPA or/and BM-MSCs were assessed on 192 mice bearing solid Ehrlich Carcinoma that were classified into two main groups, the first group 32 mice which were used to determine the mortality rate and subdivided into four groups (n=8) as flow:

Gr.1: female mice inoculated with EAC cells (2.5 × 106viable EAC) intramuscularly in the left thigh of each mouse to induce solid tumors and served as (EAC group).

Gr.2: female mice inoculated with EAC cells (2.5 × 106viable EAC), Ten days after inoculating the EAC cells (when the tumor becomes papale), the animals treated with CPA (10 mg/kg/d i. p.) for one month [17] and served as (EAC+CPA) group.

Gr.3: female mice inoculated with EAC cells (2.5 × 106viable EAC), Ten days after inoculating the EAC cells (when the tumor becomes papale), the animals injected with BM-MSCs i. v. by a single dose of 100 µl of a cell suspension containing allogenic BM-MSCs from rats at the moment of the boost (when BM-MSCs were collected) [18] then lifted untreated for one month and served as (EAC+BM-MSCs) group.

Gr4: female mice inoculated with EAC cells (2.5 × 106viable EAC), Ten days after inoculating the EAC cells (when the tumor becomes papale), the animals treated with both CPA and BM-MSCs at the same previous doses and served as (EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs) group.

The second group 160 mice were used to calculate the mean tumor weight (MTW) until the end of the study and were classified into four equal-sized groups (n=40) as flow:

Gr1: EAC group, Gr2: EAC+CPA group, Gr3: EAC+BM-MSCs and Gr4: EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs (the animals in these groups were injected as mentioned before). Then, these groups were left untreated until the end of the experiment. The weight of the solid tumor was determined by killing three animals every week and by taking the mean tumor weight of control (MTWc) and mean tumor weight of test (MTWt). The cumulative mean survival time of control (MSTc), the cumulative mean survival time of test (MSTt) the increase in life span (ILS, %) and the tumor growth inhibition ratio (T/C %) were recorded as given by Fahim et al. [19], where: MST is the days in which animals were lived only.

Biochemical and histopathological studies

40 animals were assigned into five groups, each containing 8 mice as follow: Gr1: mice received i. p. injection of physiological saline and served as a normal control group (Con), Gr2: EAC group, Gr3: EAC+CPA, Gr4: EAC+BM-MSCs and Gr5: EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs (the animals in these groups from Gr2-Gr5 were injected as mentioned before).

Samples collection

At the end of the experiment, the mice were fasted overnight, subjected to anesthesia by diethyl ether and sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and a midline abdominal incision was performed, and whole liver of each animal was rapidly dissected out, thoroughly washed with ice-cold isotonic saline, blotted dry and then weighed. Each liver was divided into two portions. One portion was immediately homogenized to give 10% (w/v) homogenate in ice-cold medium containing phosphate buffer (pH: 7.4). The homogenate was centrifuged at 1800 ×g for 10 min at 4 °C. The supernatant (10%) was separated and stored at −20 °C for the biochemical determinations. The second portion of the liver was fixed in 10% formalin saline for histopathological investigation.

Biochemical determinations

Hepatic total protein level was determined by the colorimetric method of Lowry et al. [20]. Hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity were determined by the colorimetric method using the Salucea kit (The Netherlands) according to the method described by Young [21]. Hepatic gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was measured by standard methodology using a commercially available kit provided by the Biodiagnostic Company (Giza, Egypt).

Assessment of oxidative stress

Oxidative stress was estimated using the following parameters: Hepatic MDA content was determined by a colorimetric method using the Biodiagnostic kit (Egypt) following the method of Satoh [22]. The assay of reduced glutathione (GSH) level in liver tissue was performed using the Biodiagnostic kit purchased from the Biodiagnostic Company (Giza, Egypt). Which is based on the spectrophotometric method of Beutler et al. [23]. Hepatic superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was determined by a colorimetric method as described by Nishikimi et al. [24] using a diagnostic kit supplied by Biodiagnostic Company (Giza, Egypt).

Determination of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers

The levels of biochemical parameters in liver homogenate were measured by ELISA assay using a commercially available IL-6 and IL-10 ELISA kits provided from (eBioscience Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Estimation of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic markers

The activity of Caspase-3 was measured in hepatic tissue by assay (ELIZA) technique using Gscience kits purchased from Glory Science Co., Ltd, USA, according to the manufacturer's instruction. Hepatic Bcl2 content was estimated by using ELISA kit for quantitative detection of human Bcl-2 purchased from eBioscience Co., Vienna, Austria, Europe according to the method of Barbareschi et al. [25].

Histopathological investigation

After the fixation of liver specimens in formalin saline (10%) for 24 h., washing in tap water was done, and then the liver samples were subjected to serial dilutions of alcohol (methyl, ethyl, and absolute ethyl) for dehydration. Afterward, liver specimens were cleared in xylene and embedded in paraffin wax at 56 ° in a hot air oven for 24 h. Paraffin wax tissue blocks were submitted for sectioning at 4 μm by Sledge microtome. The obtained tissue sections were collected on glass slides, deparaffinized, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin [26]. After staining, the slides were viewed with an Olympus CH (Japan) light microscope [27].

Statistical analysis

In the present study, all results were expressed as mean±standard error of the mean. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program, version 14.0 was used to compare significance between every two groups. The difference was considered as statistically significant when p˂0.05. Percentage difference representing the percent of variation for the corresponding control group was calculated according to the following formula:

RESULTS

Cell surface marker expression analysis, characterization using flow cytometry and tracking of stem cells

The immunophenotype of BM-MSCs cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. BM-MSCs cells were negative for the hematopoietic marker CD34 (fig. 2A), while powerfully positive for mesenchymal stem cell markers including CD29 (fig. 2B) and CD90 (fig. 2C). The blue histograms represent antibody labeled cells while the grey histogram shows the profile of the isotype control. BM-MSCs were labeled by PKH26 to track its engraftment in the liver tissue (fig. 2D and 2E).

Fig. 2: Immunophenotype of BM-MSCs was examined by flow cytometry. BM-MSCs cells were negative for the hematopoietic marker CD34 (A), while strongly positive for mesenchymal stem cell-specific markers including CD29 (B) and CD90 (C). The blue histograms represent antibody labeled cells while the grey histogram shows the profile of the isotype control. EAC+BM-MSCs group showing PKH26-labelled injected stem cells engrafted in liver tissue (D) and EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs group showing PKH26-labelled injected stem cells engrafted in liver tissue (E)

The anti-tumor studies

The treatment of EAC mice with the CPA, BM-MSCs or CPA and BM-MSCs together resulted in an increase in the life span (ILS %), which reached to 153.8 %, 123%, and 169.2 %, respectively, compared to the EAC mice (table 1). No marked difference in the mean tumor weight was found in the EAC group treated with BM-MSCs (5.25g) compared to the EAC group (5.48 g). Meanwhile, Treatment involving CPA and CPA+BM-MSCs revealed highly growth retardation in the mean tumor weight (3.41g) and (2.98 g), respectively (table 1and fig. 3). Moreover, the most elevation of the tumor growth inhibition ratio (T/C %) was noted in the CPA+BM-MSCs group as compared to the EAC group (fig. 4, 5).

Table 1: The anti-tumor activities of CPA or/and BM-MSCs solid Ehrlich carcinoma mice

PTI

(days)

 EAC EAC+CPA EAC+BM-MSCS EAC+CPA+BM-MSCS
M MTW±SE M MTW±SE M MTW±SE M MTW±SE
10 0/8 1.19±0.02 0/8 1.13±0.08 0/8 1.01±0.07 0/8 1.21±0.03
17 0/8 2.11±0.03 0/8 1.62±0.21 0/8 1.93±0.16 0/8 1.31±0.14
24 0/8 3.23±0.21 0/8 2.33±0.24 0/8 2.84±0.16 0/8 1.47±0.06
30 2/8 4.55±0.33 0/8 2.58±0.21 0/8 3.71±0.03 0/8 1.72±0.19
36 3/8 6.54±0.41 0/8 2.94±0.08 1/8 4.22±0.21 0/8 2.23±0.13
42 5/8 7.13±0.36 0/8 3.25±0.42 2/8 6.57±0.26 0/8 2.82±0.19
48 6/8 8.52±0.25 0/8 3.82±0.29 3/8 7.25±0.18 0/8 3.22±0.18
54 8/8 9.82±0.45 2/8 4.23±0.32 5/8 7.91±0.20 0/8 3.68±0.28
60 3/8 4.60±0.08 6/8 8.22±0.26 1/8 3.91±0.12
66 5/8 5.29±0.20 8/8 8.92±0.31 3/8 4.32±0.12
72 8/8 5.81±0.36 6/8 4.71±0.32
78 8/8 5.23±0.32
MTW 5.48 3.41 5.25 2.98
MST (days) 39 60 48 66
ILS% - 153.8 123 169.2
T/C% - 37.77 4.05 45.62

PTI= Post tumor inoculation. M= Mortality. MTW= Mean tumor weight. MST (days)= Mean survival time. ILS= Increase of life span. T/C= Tumor inhibition ratio.

Fig. 3: Showing the anti-tumor activities of CPA or/and BM-MSCs on solid EAC compared to the control group (after forty days from inoculation of EAC). (a) normal control mouse, (b) mouse bearing tumor, (c) mouse bearing tumor and treated with CPA, (d) mouse bearing tumor and treated with BM-MSCs and (e) mouse bearing tumor and treated with CPA and BM-MSCs

Fig. 4: Showing the morphological changes in the legs bearing tumor after treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs compared to control leg (after forty days from inoculation of EAC). (a) normal leg of control mouse, (b) leg of a mouse bearing tumor, (c) leg of a mouse bearing tumor and treated with CPA, (d) leg of a mouse bearing tumor and treated with BM-MSCs and (e) leg of a mouse bearing tumor and treated with CPA and BM-MSCs

Fig. 5: Showing the reduction in the tumor size after treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs compared to the EAC without any treatment (after tumor isolation from the leg) after forty days from inoculation of EAC. (a) tumor of a mouse bearing EAC without treatment, (b) tumor of a mouse bearing EAC and treated with CPA, (c) tumor of a mouse bearing tumor and treated with BM-MSCs and (d) tumor of mouse bearing EAC and treated with CPA and BM-MSCs

Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on Liver functions in EAC mice treated with CP

The EAC mice (table 2) showed a generalized disturbance in all measured hepato-specific markers comparable to control (P<0.05). Treatment of EAC mice with CPA resulted in an increment in hepatic levels of AST, ALT, and GGT compared to tumor group. These levels of liver enzymes were declined in EAC mice treated with BM-MSCs. Otherwise, treatment of EAC mice with both CPA and BM-MSCs resulted in significant depletion (P<0.05) in the hepatic levels of AST, ALT, and GGT verses to both of EAC and EAC+CPA groups.

Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on oxidative stress markers in EAC mice

Data in table 3 showed the effect of treatment with CPA, BM-MSCs, and their combination on MDA level and enzymatic antioxidants activities of EAC mice. The level of hepatic MDA level was significantly augmented (p<0.05) while the levels of GSH and SOD were significantly diminished (p<0.05) in the EAC group when versus to the control group. Treatment of EAC mice with CPA resulted in significant rises (p<0.05) in the hepatic levels of MDA, as well as significant reductions in hepatic activities of GSH and SOD as versus to the control groups. Meanwhile, treatment of EAC mice with BM-MSCs or CPA+BM-MSCs resulted in significant, dose-dependent reductions in MDA levels and significant increment in the activities of GSH and SOD verses to both of EAC and EAC+CPA groups.

Table 2: Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on liver enzymes in liver tissue of EAC mice Effects of BM-MSCs on EAC mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CPA)

Parameters
Groups

ALT

(U/l)

AST

(U/l)

GGT

(U/g)
Con 66.17±7.28 235.62±12.35 25.83±4.05
EAC

97.73±8.35a

a (47.69%)

283.25±11.82a

a (20.21%)

132.62±12.82a

a (413.43%)
EAC+CPA

120.62±9.13b

b (23.42%)

348.25±15.31b

b (22.94%)

118.23±4.21b

b (-10.85%)
EAC+BM-MSCs

82.08±6.71b

b (-16.01%)

268.30±12.62b

b (-5.27%)

62.82±6.23b

b (-52.63%)
EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs

72.56±8.23bc

b (-25.75%)

c (-39.84%)

252.82±13.12bc

b (-10.74%)

c (-27.40%)

38.71±4.32bc

b (-70.81%)

c (-67.25%)

a: Significant change at P<0.05 when it compared to the normal control group (Con); b: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC group. c: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC+CPA group.

Table 3: Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on oxidative stress markers in liver tissue of EAC mice

Parameters
Groups

MDA

(nmol/gm)

GSH

(mg/g tissue)

SOD

(µg/gm)
Con 86.28±9.12 56.43±6.12 338.81±10.12
EAC

165.14±10.52a

a (91.40%)

26.32±4.41a

a (-53.35%)

226.82±11.21a

a (-33.05%)
EAC+CPA

282.76±17.32a

b (71.22%)

16.11±2.12b

b (-38.79%)

118.32±9.24b

b (-47.85%)
EAC+BM-MSCs

132.27±11.35b

b (-19.90%)

33.02±5.94b

b (25.45%)

272.11±12.61b

b (19.96%)
EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs

99.82±10.81bc

b (-39.55%)

c (-64.69%)

45.51±5.11bc

b (72.91%)

c (182.49%)

315.25±13.03bc

b (38.98%)

c (166.44%)

a: Significant change at P<0.05 when it compared to the normal control group (Con); b: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC group. c: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC+CPA group.

Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on Inflammatory and Anti-inflammatory mediators in EAC mice

The result of this study showed that hepatic IL-6 level displayed significant elevation (P<0.05) in the EAC treated group correlated with Maximum amelioration in the level of IL-10 as compared with the control groups proving increased inflammatory response (table 4). However, CPA treatment induced upregulation in the level of IL-6 and downregulation in the level of IL-10 as compared with the EAC group. In contrast, treatment of EAC group with BM-MSCs or CPA+BM-MSCs significantly restored the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 near to normal levels compared to both EAC and EAC+CPA groups (table 4).

Table 4: Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in liver tissue of EAC mice

Parameters
Groups

IL-6

Pg/mg protein

IL-10

Pg/mg protein
Con 36.52±5.21 146.82±10.31
EAC

111.24±10.32a

a (204.60%)

96.92±9.34a

a (-33.92%)
EAC+CPA

203.62±11.32b

b (83.04%)

42.82±5.12b

b (-55.81%)
EAC+BM-MSCs

72.53±9.62b

b (-34.79%)

116.87±11.52b

b (20.58%)
EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs

56.32±8.63bc

b (-49.37%)

c (-72.34%)

132.04±12.53bc

b (36.23%)

c (208.36%)

a: Significant change at P<0.05 when it compared to the normal control group (Con); b: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC group. c: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC+CPA group.

Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on apoptotic and antiapoptotic markers in EAC mice

It is clear from table 5 that the inoculation of EAC into mice induced liver injury caused a marked increase (P<0.05) in the level of Caspase-3 indicating acceleration of apoptosis reflected by significant depleting in the hepatic levels of Bcl2 compared to the normal control group.

CPA administration increased significantly (P<0.05) the level of IL-6 and decreases significantly (P<0.05) the levels of Caspase-3 as compared to the EAC group.

However, decreased levels of Caspase-3 and increased levels(P<0.05) of Bcl2 were recorded following the treatment of EAC group with BM-MSCs or CPA and BM-MSCs together compared to both of EAC and EAC+CPA groups (table 5).

Table 5: Effects of treatment with CPA or/and BM-MSCs on apoptotic and anti-apoptotic markers in liver tissue of EAC mice

Parameters
Groups

Caspase-3

ng/mg protein

Bcl2

ng/mg protein
Con 3.08±0.40 8.52±1.08
EAC

8.71±0.53a

a (182.79%)

4.32±0.53a

a (-49.29%)
EAC+CPA

11.56±2.22b

b (32.72%)

2.61±0.18b

b (-39.58%)
EAC+BM-MSCs

6.11±0.32b

b (-29.85%)

5.68±0.81b

b (31.48%)
EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs

4.50±0.62bc

b (-48.33%)

c (-61.07%)

7.12±1.12bc

b (64.81%)

c (172.79%)

a: Significant change at P<0.05 when it compared to the normal control group (Con); b: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC group. c: Significant change at P<0.05 contra EAC+CPA group.

Histopathological investigation

Histopathological studies showed that inoculation of EAC into mice induced massive liver damage including severe congestion of erythrocytes and leucocytes, leucocytic infiltration, and vacuolar degeneration when compared to the control rat liver (fig. 6B). Also, dilatation in the portal vein and Thickening in the bile ductule wall was observed due to the accumulation of fibers around the wall lining (fig. 6C). On the other side, treatment with CPA revealed some changes in the liver tissue demonstrated by dilatation in the portal vein and destruction in its wall beside leucocytic infiltration surrounded by necrotic lesions was noted. Moreover, different types of leucocytes appeared scattered in the tissue besides giant phagocytic Kupffer cells in addition to large foci of necrosis (fig. 6D and E). The pathological changes induced by EAC were improved greatly in the liver of rats treated with BM-MSCs (fig. 6F). However, after the treatment with CPA+BM-MSCs showed the hepatic lobules appeared more like normal and hepatic cells are arranged in a series of branching plates (fig. 6G).

Fig. 6: (A) photomicrographs of H and E stained liver sections of control mice demonstrated the normal hepatic architecture. (X200). (B) hepatic Section of EAC mice displayed distortion in hepatic architecture manifested by leucocytic infiltration area (LIA), necrotic areas (NA) and degeneration of the liver cells that looked empty of nucleus (X400). (C)Liver Section of EAC mice showing swollen in lining epithelia of the bile ductule (arrows), congestion of erythrocytes and leucocytes in portal vein (PV) and leucocytic infiltration (X200). (D) Liver Section of EAC mice treated with CP showing dilatation in portal vein (PV), Leucocytic infiltration (In) and necrotic foci (Nf) (X100). (E) Liver Section of EAC mice treated with CP displayed large necrotic foci (Nf) with scattered inflammatory cells and giant Kupffer cells (KC) (X400). (F) Hepatic section of EAC mice treated with BM-MSCs showed almost normal hepato-cellular architecture (X100). (G) Liver Section of EAC mice treated with CP+BM-MSCs displayed normal healthy hepatocytes around normal central vein (CV) (X200).

DISCUSSION

The current study showed that CPA, BM-MSCs or CPA and BM-MSCs administration significantly reduced the solid tumor burden in mice and enhanced the survival time of EAC bearing mice, especially in the co-administration of CPA and BM-MSCs which caused an increase in the life span of animals and the tumor inhibition ratio [28]. The present findings revealed that both CPA and BM-MSCs exerted antitumor activity through interference with cell metabolism and inhibiting tumor proliferation. CPA undergoes metabolic activation by hepatic enzymes and forms 4-hydroxy cyclophosphamide, which converts into two cytotoxic metabolites acrolein and phosphoramide mustard. These cytotoxic metabolites on enzymatic activation form covalent bonds with DNA and proteins, causing DNA damage, This DNA damage could render tumor cells more apt to undergo apoptosis causing cell death, hence reducing the proliferation, migration and invasive properties of the cell line [29]. BM-MSCs repressed tumor proliferation and metastasis via altitude T-cell responses likely through MSC-secreted T-cell chemokines. All through increasing T-cell responses, the excessive levels of T-cell cytokines subsequently turn on the negative feedback mechanisms in MSCs to suppress excessive T-cell reactivity. A key T-cell cytokine in this regulation is IFNγ, which acts independently or with inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1 and interleukin 17 to functionally transform MSCs from a resting state to a highly immunosuppressive stage [30]. Such immunosuppression is attained via cytokine-induced manifestation of the immunosuppressive molecules inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in human and mouse MSCs [31].

The results of the present study also demonstrated that the co-administration of CPA and BM-MSCs resulted in a significant decrease in MTW and increases the mean survival time of tumor-bearing mice. This decrease in MTW may attribute to the action of CPA in the development of free radicals-mediated oxidative stress in tumor cells. This ROS production is believed to be the main effect in sensitizing tumor cells towards apoptosis [32]. Compatible with our results, a preceding study found that exosomes derived from microRNA-143-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells inhibiting proliferation, invasion, and migration while enhancing apoptosis of hepatoma cells via regulating the NF-κB pathway [33].

In the present study, the elevations recorded in serum ALT, AST and GGT activities in EAC and CPA-treated groups may be due to drastic conditions induced by the toxic activity of tumor cells and CPA accumulations in the liver and in turn this might cause cellular destruction or increase hepatic cells permeability [34]. In contrast, the EAC group treated with BM-MSCs recorded a significant decline in serum ALT, AST and GGT activities as versus to the EAC group. Moreover, the double treatment of EAC with both of CPA and BM-MSCs resulted in a significant improvement in serum ALT, AST and GGT as compared to both EAC group and EAC+CPA group, showing the protective effects of BM-MSCs against liver injury and hepatic fibrosis. Several studies demonstrated that transplantation of stem cells has been demonstrated to exert therapeutic effects in cases of liver fibrosis, as well as after repeated partial hepatectomy, and significantly lowering levels of AST, ALT, and GGT [35]. The acquired results exhibited a significant increase of hepatic MDA level in tumor-bearing mice associated with a significant decline in GSH and SOD contents as versus to that of the normal control group. Such finding is in agreement with Fahim et al. [19] who stated that the increase in MDA and decrease of GSH and SOD due to the oxidative stress on the host in response to the continual production of free radicals by the expanding tumor load. The present work demonstrated a significant increase in hepatic MDA level correlated with a significant decrease in SOD activity as well as GSH level in the EAC+CPA group as compared to EAC group. Decreasing of the antioxidant levels may be due to malfunction of the antioxidant defense mechanisms that probably result from the consumption of antioxidants by chemotherapy stimulated-oxidative stress and/or renal loss of low molecular weight, water soluble antioxidants. Maruthanila et al. [36] stated that the pro-oxidant properties of chemotherapy may be implicated in its capability to induce tumor cell apoptosis, which is achieved partly through direct oxidative damage of DNA, RNA, and/or protein in the cells. Current study revealed an improvement by BM-MSCs treatment in the hepatic MDA, GSH and SOD levels in the both of EAC group and EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs versus to EAC group and EAC+CPA group. BM-MSCs rise GSH via increased efflux of cysteine with enhanced GSH synthesis which facilitated by secretion of soluble growth factors by BM-MSCs or by their interaction with host cells or both [37]. Likewise, our results show that BM-MSCs infusion is associated with expansion of SOD activity which reflects the efficiency of BM-MSCs in combating the induced oxidative stress [38]. This study is built on the fact that stem cells can be chemotactically attracted to the location of injury [39].

In the contemporary study, implantation of EAC resulted in a significant increment in IL-6 associated with a significant reductions in IL-10 versus to the control group which was in a similar line with other studies that stated that proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 have an important role in cancer development [40]. IL-6 is possibly the best characterized protumorigenic cytokine that was initially supposed to be complicated in cancer due to their capability to activate the oncogenic transcription factors such as activator protein 1 (AP-1), signal transducers and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in epithelial cells [41].

The kindness impacts of IL-10 in cancer include inhibition of angiogenesis either directly on tumor cells or indirectly boosts antitumor immunity by influencing infiltrating immune cells [42] and modulation of apoptosis [43]. IL-10 may wield pro-tumorigenic effect via repression of adaptive immune replies that caused tumor escape from immune surveillance [44]. These opposite effects of IL-10 might depend on relations with either cytokines or factors found in the tumor microenvironment. In this perspective, IL-10 has been stated to repress NO production and control the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activation [45]. The iNOS-derived NO has been identified as one of the extremely versatile players in the immune system and pathogenesis of numerous diseases as well as cancer [46].

Administration of CPA resulted in hepatotoxicity manifested by a significant increase in IL-6 associated with a significant decrease in the IL-10 as compared to the EAC group. These results reveal the existence of liver inflammation in mice treated with CPA. Inflammation is the most important cause of liver injury, as various pieces of substantiation indicate that high levels of inflammatory cytokines can damage the liver [47]. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, for example, interleukin (IL)-1b and IL-6 can injure the hepatocytes via the NF-kB pathway. Simultaneously, the NF-kB pathway controls the synthesis and expression of numerous inflammatory factors and then produces apoptosis of the hepatocytes. Studies have demonstrated that CPA can promote the IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-α levels [48]. Furthermore, apart from the influence of CPA and its metabolites on the IL-6 production the diminishing of IL-10 production by macrophages [49].

On the other hand, the treatment of the EAC group and EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs with BM-MSCs recorded a significant reduction in the IL-6 level associated with significant increment in IL-10 level as compared to the EAC group and EAC+CPA group. MSCs are recognized for their powerful anti-inflammatory functions, as they habitually transplanted into inflammatory environments where they capable to survive and regulate host immune responses [50]. The gained findings of the existing study declare that the protective influence of BM-MSCs is multifactorial as well as oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and tissue repair. It has been stated that MSCs are qualified for delivering an assortment of cytokines and hematopoietic soluble growth factors [51].

In this study, EAC inoculation produced a significant increment in hepatic caspase 3 and significant reduction in the hepatic Bcl2 level versus to normal control group. It is known that damaged cells could tend to turn into cancer if they did not choose apoptosis [52]. Caspase 3 activity likewise raised in human hepatocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo studies by S. marianum treatment [53]. EAC apoptotic cellular death stimulated by activating caspase 3 utilizing Synadenium umbellatum Pax [54]. In view of our findings, Badr El-Din et al. [55] documented that significant variations in the expression of apoptotic regulators (activation of caspase-3, upregulation in the expression of proapoptotic proteins Bax and p53, downregulation in the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, and decreased Bcl2: Bax ratio) in mice that were inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The treatment of EAC group with CPA was also up-regulating the hepatic level of caspase-3 and down-regulating the hepatic level of Bcl-2 as compared to the EAC group. Related studies Shokrzadeh et al. [8] reported that the CPA-induced liver damage was associated with the ability to regulate hepatocyte apoptosis, including DNA insertion, p53 protein activation, and ROS production. Initiation of p53 further begins a cascade of enzymatic reactions that push along to stimulate downstream members of the family (such as caspase-3 and caspase-9) even though a positive feedback process. Stimulated caspase-3 specifically cleaves its substrate and fragments DNA to produce apoptosis [56]. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 can be initiated, and apoptosis can be caused by regulating the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins (eg. Bcl-2 or Bax) or causing apoptosis-related complexes [57].

In contrast, the treatment of the EAC group and EAC+CPA+BM-MSCs with BM-MSCs recorded a significant reduction in the caspase-3 level associated with significant increment in Bcl-2 level as compared to the EAC group and EAC+CPA group. BM-MSCs considerably diminished caspase-3 activity, this finding verified their role in mitigating inflammatory reply and apoptosis to healing damaged cells and BM-MSCs are of a certain therapeutic effect for hepatic dysfunction [38]. It has been described that apart from cytokine/chemokine secretion, MSCs also exhibit a powerful capacity for mitochondrial transfer and microvesicle (exosomes) emission in response to injury with consequent advancement of tissue regeneration [58]. Exosomes have a most important role in the paracrine impact of transplanted cells where they be able to carry a complex content that involves nucleic acids proteins long noncoding RNAs and microRNA [59]. Feng et al. [60] displayed that MSCs-derived exosomes include miR-22, which silence methyl CpG binding protein 2 and lessened apoptosis in cardiac tissue. Additionally, numerous studies should be performed to establish the vital role of cytokines, growth factor and MSCs released vesicles (exosomes) in purpose repair of MSCs in addition to establishing their role in hepatic microenvironment.

The present study showed that Ehrlich solid tumor-bearing mice showed harmful effects on liver tissue displayed by degeneration of the liver cells and dilatation in the portal vein beside marked congestion of erythrocytes and leucocytes surrounded by Aggregations of inflammatory cells. The infiltrations of Ehrlich tumor cells are thought to be the proliferation and migration of tumor cells into the internal organs and the presence of Aggregations of inflammatory cells might occur to degeneration of the mitochondria or disorganization of the cytoplasm [61]. Meanwhile, CPA showed major impairments dilatation in the portal vein and marked necrotic area surrounded by inflammatory cells and giant Kupffer cells in the tissue. This observation coincided with the results of Rahmouni et al. [62] who found that hepatic centrilobular necrosis, degeneration, and infiltration in the liver of CPA-intoxicated animals is associated with A higher level of liver marker enzymes in the bloodstream. On the other side, co-treatment of BM-MSCs with CPA compensated the conspicuous hepatic alterations induced by EAC and CPA and restored the liver tissue to normal hepato-cellular architecture indicating to anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and anti-fibrotic effect of BM-MSCs [63].

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that BM-MSCs might be significantly reducing CPA-induced hepatotoxicity in EAC mice. This protection of BM-MSCs was demonstrated by the induction of the antioxidant enzyme systems to increase the disposal of overproduction reactive free oxygen radicals by blocking the lipid peroxidation in liver tissue after CPA treatment. Moreover, this study revealed that BM-MSCs significantly ameliorate the inflammation and apoptosis in liver tissue characterizing hepatotoxicity in EAC mice treated with CPA due to its anti-inflammatory effect as well as its antiapoptotic effect. In addition, BM-MSCs enhance the antitumor properties of CPA by increase the inhibitory effect of CPA on tumor growth.

FUNDING

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

Asmaa M Zaazaa and Bosy A Abd El-Motelp created, designed the study, analyzed the data, wrote and revised the manuscript.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that influenced this work.

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