Histopathology and NF-κB/Caspase-3 Expression in High Fructose Corn Syrup–Induced Lung Injury: Protective Effect of Dexpanthenol

Abstract

Aim: High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been associated with metabolic and inflammatory disturbances, including pulmonary inflammatory injury. Due to its known anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective properties, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects of dexpanthenol (DEXP) against HFCS-induced structural and molecular lung damage in rat lungs.

Material and Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were allocated at random into four groups (Control, HFCS, HFCS+DEXP, DEXP). HFCS (30%) was provided in drinking water for 8 weeks. DEXP was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day for the last 2 weeks. Lung tissues were processed for hematoxylin–eosin and Picro Sirius Red staining. Hyperemia, edema, epithelial loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis were evaluated semi-quantitatively. The immunohistochemical expression of NF-κB and Caspase-3 was assessed as markers of inflammatory and apoptotic activities.

Results: Exposure to HFCS produced alterations such as thickened alveolar walls, interstitial edema, vascular hyperemia, degeneration and loss of epithelial cells, accumulation of inflammatory cells, and early deposition of collagen compared with the control group. Histopathological scores for inflammation, edema, hyperemia, epithelial loss, and fibrosis were significantly increased in the HFCS group (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.006, and p=0.011, respectively). In addition, NF-κB and Caspase-3 expression levels were significantly elevated in the HFCS group compared with the control group (p=0.001). DEXP treatment significantly reduced histopathological scores (p=0.001), as well as NF-κB and Caspase-3 expression levels compared with the HFCS group (p=0.001 and p=0.0018, respectively). In the DEXP-only group, lung morphology was preserved.

Conclusion: Chronic ingestion of HFCS elicits prominent inflammatory, apoptotic, and fibrotic responses in rat lung tissue. DEXP exerts strong histoprotective and immunomodulatory actions, suggesting potential therapeutic value against HFCS-induced pulmonary injury.

Keywords

• High fructose corn syrup
• dexpanthenol
• lung injury
• inflammation
• apoptosis
• fibrosis

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Süleyman Demirel University.

Project Number

TSG- 2024-9515

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval for this study was received from Süleyman Demirel University Local Animal Experiments Ethics Committee (Approval No: 06.11.2025/658).

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