C-Phycocyanin: an effective protective agent against thymic atrophy by tributyltin.

Abstract

Spirulina platensis, used worldwide as a food supplement, is a natural source of protein, vitamins, carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids. C-Phycocyanin (C-Pc), its major biliprotein, is known to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging properties. Our present study showed that treatment with C-Pc protects the rats from Tributyltin (TBT) induced thymic atrophy. The results reveal TBT-induced oxidative stress mediated apoptosis in rat thymocytes in vivo and its attenuation by C-Pc. This ameliorative effect could be attributed to antioxidant activity of the biliprotein. C-Pc also increased TBTC reduced thymic weight and cellularity as well. TBTC-induced ROS generation and lowered GSH levels were restored by C-Pc, suggesting its radical scavenging properties. The various apoptotic determinants such as mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell population were effectively modulated by C-Pc treatment. We make this first observation to illustrate the effectiveness of C-Pc in reducing TBTC-induced thymic atrophy. The morphology of thymic tissue was restored to near normal by this biliprotein. The present study, therefore, suggests that C-Pc could serve as an effective natural antioxidant for efficient management of TBTC induced oxidative damage.

• Authors: Monika Gupta, Upendra Nath Dwivedi, Shashi Khandelwal
• Journal: Toxicology letters (Toxicol Lett) Vol. 204 Issue 1 Pg. 2-11 (Jul 04 2011) ISSN: 1879-3169 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21477642 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• Trialkyltin Compounds
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• Phycocyanin
• tributyltin
• Caspase 3

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Atrophy (drug therapy)
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Flow Cytometry
• Male
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial (drug effects)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Phycocyanin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Thymus Gland (drug effects, pathology)
• Trialkyltin Compounds (adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (metabolism)