Silymarin ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by downregulating TNF-α and NF-kB and by upregulating IL-10

Abstract

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the antineoplastic agents used to treat many types of cancers. Besides these effects of CP, it causes various side effects such as nephrotoxicity. Inflammation is considered to be one of the main pathogeneses of CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Silymarin (SIL) is a flavonoid with beneficial pharmacological properties such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The current study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of Silymarin against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Albino Wistar male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=7): Control group was administered saline (0.5 ml) for 10 days intraperitoneally (IP), CP group was received CP (a single dose of 8 mg/kg, IP), CP+ SIL group was administered saline (0.5 ml) for 10 days and was received CP (a single dose of 8 mg/kg). To measure the inflammatory response, TNF-α, NF-kB and IL-10 expressions were performed. As a result, TNF-α and NF-kB expressions significantly increased while IL-10 expression decreased in the kidney of the CP group compared to the control group. However, SIL treatment significantly decreased TNF-α and NF-kB expressions and increased IL-10 expression in kidney CP-treated rats. These findings reveal that SIL may ameliorates the CP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by inducing downregulation of TNF-α and NF-kB expressions and upregulation of IL-10 expression.