Anat Cell Biol 2023; 56(1): 109-121
Published online March 31, 2023
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.200
Copyright © Korean Association of ANATOMISTS.
Ahmed H. Moustafa1 , Heba F. Pasha2
, Manar A. Abas3
, Adel M. Aboregela4,5
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 2Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 4Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, 5Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence to:Adel Mohamed Aboregela
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
E-mail: aaboregela@ub.edu.sa, amaboregela@zu.edu.eg, adelaboregela@hotmail.com
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Thioacetamide (TAA) exposure and hepatitis C virus infection are usually associated with renal dysfunction. Sofosbuvir (SFV) and daclatasvir (DAC) drugs combination has great value in the treatment of hepatitis C. The study aimed to identify the nephrotoxic effects of TAA and to evaluate the ameliorative role of SFV and DAC in this condition. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were divided into eight groups and received saline (control), SFV, DAC, SFV+DAC, TAA, TAA+SFV, TAA+DAC and TAA+SFV+DAC for eight weeks. Kidney and blood samples were retrieved and processed for histological (Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson’s trichrome), immunohistochemical (α-smooth muscle actin), and biochemical analysis (urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and tumor necrosis factor-α). Examination revealed marked destruction of renal tubules on exposure to TAA with either hypertrophy or atrophy of glomeruli, increase in collagen deposition, and wide expression of α-smooth muscle actin. Also, significant disturbance in kidney functions, oxidative stress markers, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Supplementation with either SFV or DAC produced mild improvement in the tissue and laboratory markers. Moreover, the combination of both drugs greatly refined the pathology induced by TAA at the cellular and laboratory levels. However, there are still significant differences when compared to the control. In conclusion, SFV and DAC combination partially but greatly ameliorated the renal damage induced by TAA which might be enhanced with further supplementations to give new hope for those with nephropathy associated with hepatitis.
Keywords: Hepatitis C, Antiviral agents, Nephropathy, TNF-alpha, Kidney function