Effect of selenium against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the brain of rats: Role of TRPM2 channel

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used as an anticancer drug in humans' various solid and haematological tumours. Although many studies on the toxic effect of DOX are used in different organs, its impact on brain tissue has yet to be adequately studied. This study investigated the protective effect of selenium (Se) and the role of transient receptor potential melastatin‐2 (TRPM2) channel activation against brain damage caused by DOX administration. Sixty rats were randomly divided into the sham, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), DOX, DOX + Se, DOX + N-(p-amylcinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (ACA), and DOX + Se + ACA groups. The reactive oxygen species (ROS), poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1), and TRPM2 channel levels in brain tissues were measured by ELISA. In addition, a histopathological examination was performed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal areas, and the TRPM2 channel, NF-κB, and caspase-3 expression were determined immunohistochemically. The levels of ROS, PARP1 and TRPM2 channel in the DOX group were higher than in the sham and DMSO groups (P < 0.05). However, these parameters were decreased in the in DOX+Se and DOX+ACA groups by the treatments of Se and ACA (P < 0.05). Also, we determined that Se and ACA treatment decreased the NF-κB, caspase-3, and TRPM2 channel expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal areas in the DOX-induced rats. The data showed that Se and/or ACA administration together with DOX administration could be used as a protective agent against DOX-induced brain damage.