A new approach of nano-metformin as a protector against radiation-induced cardiac fibrosis and inflammation via CXCL1/TGF-Β pathway

Heba M Karam; Dina M Lotfy; Ayman M Ibrahim; Farag M Mosallam; Sahar S Abdelrahman; Amira Abd-ElRaouf

doi:10.1007/s00210-024-03052-4

A new approach of nano-metformin as a protector against radiation-induced cardiac fibrosis and inflammation via CXCL1/TGF-Β pathway

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2024 Apr 9. doi: 10.1007/s00210-024-03052-4. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Heba M Karam¹, Dina M Lotfy², Ayman M Ibrahim^{2

3}, Farag M Mosallam⁴, Sahar S Abdelrahman⁵, Amira Abd-ElRaouf²

Affiliations

¹ Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt. heba.karam.mohmed@gmail.com.
² Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
³ Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S4L8, Canada.
⁴ Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt. farag.abomosalam@eaea.org.eg.
⁵ Anatomic Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

PMID: 38592438
DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03052-4

Abstract

The present work investigates the potential role of metformin nanoparticles (MTF-NPs) as a radio-protector against cardiac fibrosis and inflammation induced by gamma radiation via CXCL1/TGF-β pathway. Lethal dose fifty of nano-metformin was determined in mice, then 21 rats (male albino) were equally divided into three groups: normal control (G1), irradiated control (G2), and MTF-NPs + IRR (G3). The possible protective effect of MTF-NPs is illustrated via decreasing cardiac contents of troponin, C-X-C motif Ligand 1 (CXCL1), tumor growth factor β (TGF-β), protein kinase B (AKT), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Also, the positive effect of MTF-NPs on insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in heart tissues using immunohistochemical technique is illustrated in the present study. Histopathological examination emphasizes the biochemical findings. The current investigation suggests that MTF-NPs might be considered as a potent novel treatment for the management of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation in patients who receive radiotherapy or workers who may be exposed to gamma radiation.

Keywords: CXCL1; Gamma radiation; NF-κB; Nano-metformin; TGF; Troponin.