Protective effects of quercetin against cyclophosphamide-induced hepatic and renal injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of HSP70

Abstract

Objective: Cyclophosphamide is a widely used alkylating agent in the treatment of various malignancies and autoimmune disorders; however, its clinical application is limited by its toxic effects on several organs, particularly the liver and kidneys. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity on histopathological alterations and HSP70 immunoreactivity in liver and kidney tissues, as well as to evaluate the potential protective effect of quercetin. 

Methods: A total of 28 female Wistar albino rats weighing 250–350 g were randomly allocated into four experimental groups. At the end of the experimental period, liver and kidney tissues were collected, processed using routine histological procedures, and embedded in paraffin. Histopathological changes were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, while HSP70 immunoreactivity was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. 

Results: Severe histopathological alterations were observed in the group III, whereas these changes were markedly attenuated in the group IV. In addition, HSP70 immunoreactivity was markedly reduced in the liver and kidney tissues of the group III compared with the group I. In contrast, HSP70 immunoreactivity in the group IV was comparable to that observed in the group I. 

Conclusion: These results suggest that HSP70 may serve as a potential biomarker for the assessment of cyclophosphamide-induced hepatic and renal injury. Furthermore, quercetin appears to exert a protective effect against cyclophosphamide-induced tissue damage by preserving the cellular stress response, as evidenced by the maintenance of HSP70 immunoreactivity.

Keywords

• Cyclophosphamide
• HSP70
• Quercetin
• Hepatorenal Toxicity

Supporting Institution

No

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Kafkas University. Ethical Council Number KAU-HADYEK/2025-253 permission was taken. In this research the ethical rules of Helsinki Declearation was obeyed.

Thanks

No

Quercetin’in siklofosfamid kaynaklı karaciğer ve böbrek hasarına karşı koruyucu etkileri: HSP70’in histopatolojik ve immünohistokimyasal değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Siklofosfamid, çeşitli malignitelerin ve otoimmün hastalıkların tedavisinde yaygın olarak kullanılan bir alkilleyici ajandır; ancak, özellikle karaciğer ve böbrekler olmak üzere birçok organ üzerinde yarattığı toksik etkiler nedeniyle klinik uygulaması sınırlıdır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, siklofosfamidin neden olduğu toksisitenin karaciğer ve böbrek dokularındaki histopatolojik değişiklikler ve HSP70 immünoreaktivitesi üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmak ve quercetin'in potansiyel koruyucu etkisini değerlendirmektir. Yöntem: Toplam 250–350 g ağırlığındaki 28 dişi Wistar albino sıçan, rastgele dört deney grubuna ayrılmıştır. Deney süresinin sonunda karaciğer ve böbrek dokuları alınarak rutin histolojik prosedürler uygulandı ve parafine gömüldü. Histopatolojik değişiklikler hematoksilen ve eozin (H&E) boyaması kullanılarak değerlendirilirken, HSP70 immünoreaktivitesi immünohistokimyasal analizle değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Grup III’te ciddi histopatolojik değişiklikler gözlemlenirken, bu değişiklikler Grup IV’te belirgin şekilde azalmıştı. Ayrıca, Grup III’ün karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında HSP70 immünoreaktivitesi, Grup I’e kıyasla belirgin şekilde azalmıştı. Buna karşın, Grup IV’teki HSP70 immünoreaktivitesi, Grup I’de gözlemlenene benzerdi. Sonuç: Bu sonuçlar, HSP70’in siklofosfamid kaynaklı karaciğer ve böbrek hasarının değerlendirilmesinde potansiyel bir biyobelirteç işlevi görebileceğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, HSP70 immünoreaktivitesinin korunmasından da anlaşıldığı üzere, kersetin, hücresel stres yanıtını koruyarak siklofosfamid kaynaklı doku hasarına karşı koruyucu bir etki sergilemektedir.

Keywords

• Siklofosfamid
• HSP70
• Quercetin
• Hepatorenal Toksisite

Supporting Institution

yok

Ethical Statement

Kafkas Üniversitesi’nden etik onay alınmıştır. KAU-HADYEK/2025-253 numaralı Etik Kurulu izni alınmıştır. Bu araştırmada Helsinki Bildirgesi’nin etik kurallarına uyulmuştur.

Thanks

yok

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