Interactive effects of cadmium and titanium dioxide nanoparticles on hepatic tissue in rats: Ameliorative role of coenzyme 10 via modulation of the NF-κB and TNFα pathway

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of oral dosing of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) and cadmium (Cd²⁺) on rat liver and the potential protective role of coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) against TNPs and Cd²⁺-induced hepatic injury. Seventy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into seven groups and orally given distilled water, corn oil, CQ10 (10 mg/kg b.wt), TNPs (50 mg/kg b.wt), Cd²⁺ (5 mg/kg b.wt), TNPs + Cd²⁺, or TNPs + Cd²⁺+CQ10 by gastric gavage for 60 successive days. The results showed that individual or mutual exposure to TNPs and Cd²⁺ significantly increased the serum levels of various hepatic enzymes and lipids, depleted the hepatic content of antioxidant enzymes, and increased malondialdehyde. Moreover, the hepatic titanium and Cd²⁺ content were increased considerably in TNPs and/or Cd²⁺-exposed rats. Furthermore, marked histopathological perturbations with increased immunoexpression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor kappa B were evident in TNPs and/or Cd²⁺-exposed rats. However, CQ10 significantly counteracted the damaging effect of combined exposure of TNPs and Cd²⁺ on the liver. The study concluded that TNPs and Cd²⁺ exposure harm hepatic function and its architecture, particularly at their mutual exposure, but CQ10 could be a candidate protective agent against TNPs and Cd²⁺ hepatotoxic impacts.

Keywords: Cadmium; Coenzyme 10; Inflammation; Liver; Oxidative stress; Titanium dioxide nanoparticles.