Turkish Journal of Oncology Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology
Article Open Access Volume 36 · Issue 1 · 2021 pp. 071–078

Thymol May be an Effective Agent in the Treatment of Liver and Kidney Damages Caused by Ionizing Radiation

Hilal KIZILTUNÇ ÖZMEN1, Fazile Nur EKİNCİ AKDEMİR1, Ayhan TANYELİ1, Serkan YILDIRIM1, Yasin BAYIR1, Yılmaz ŞAHİN1, Gizem ESER1, Ayşenur KAHRAMANLAR1
1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum-Turkey
2 Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Anethesiology Clinical Research Office, Erzurum-Turkey
3 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ağrı İbrahim Cecen University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Agrı-Turkey
4 Department of Physiology, Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum-Turkey
5 Department of Pathology, Atatürk University Faculty of Veterinary, Erzurum-Turkey
6 Department of Biochemistry, Atatürk University Faculty of Pharmacy, Erzurum-Turkey
7 Department of Physics, Atatürk University Faculty of Science, Erzurum-Turkey
Published: 2021 DOI: 10.5505/tjo.2020.2556 Article ID: 1187
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of thymol in diminishing the damages
to the liver and kidney tissues caused by the application of ionizing radiation.


METHODS

The experimental rats were randomized and grouped as follows: Group I (control), Group II (receiving
ionizing radiation), and Group III (receiving thymol + ionizing radiation). Pathological tissue damage
was assessed by immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses using chemical methods.


RESULTS

The level of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) in both the tissues were significantly elevated in Group II
compared to that in Group I (p<0.001 for both the tissues), but they were significantly lower in Group III
than in Group II (p<0.01 for both the tissues). In addition, the plasma MDA level in both the tissues was
increased in Group III than in Group I (p<0.05 for both the tissues). The level of superoxide dismutase
(SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the liver and kidney tissues were significant decreased in Group II than
in Group I (p<0.001 for both the tissues and for both the parameters), while these parameters were increased
in Group III relative to those in Group II (p<0.05 for both the tissues and for both the parameters).
Moreover, the plasma SOD and GSH levels in both the tissues were decreased in Group III than in Group I
(p<0.05 for both the tissues and for both the parameters). All these findings were supported by the pathological
images of caspase-3 and 8-OHdG tests conducted in the study.


CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that the treatment of thymol in the rat models is useful in diminishing the
liver and kidney damages caused by the application of ionizing radiation.

Keywords: Caspase-3; ionizing radiation; livers; kidneys; thymol; 8-OHdG

Full text

Introduction

The direct exposure of liver tissues to ionizing radiation induced ionization and arousal in the atoms and molecules constituting the cells and tissues. In the subsequent chemical processes, the damaged atoms and molecules react with other cellular structures to trigger the emergence of free radicals. Such molecular changes induces biological processes, including various enzymatic reactions due to the effect of radiation on living structures. These events cause metabolic changes that conclude in cell death. The toxic effects on healthy cells of radiation therapy used in the tumor treatment are believed to be capable of reduction by agents possessing various biological properties.[-] Thymol is a natural phenolic compound present in various medicinal plants.[] It exhibits numerous useful functions such as radioprotective effects, inflammatory response inhibition, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity.[,] Until date, no previous studies had demonstrated the efficacy of thymol in various different biological properties and in models of ionizing radiation-induced organ damage. From this perspective, the concept of the present research is entirely original. Our study goal was to evaluate the efficacy of thymol in declining the damage to liver and kidney tissues caused by the application of ionizing radiations.

Methods

The animals used in the experimental studies were sourced from the Experimental Animal Research and Application Center (ATADEM) and were housed under the same laboratory conditions of 12-h day/12-h night; 55% moisture; 22 °C±2 °C temperature. The animals received standard pellet feed and tap water during the experimental period.

Experimental Procedures
A total of 30 female Wistar rats were categorized into 3 groups. The experimental groups and the protocol are summarized as follows: Group I (control group): Including rats that did not receive any treatment. Group II (ionizing radiation group): Including rats that were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine, after which 8 Gray external irradiation was applied to their abdominal regions. Radiotherapy was applied using the 13.6 Version Varian Trilogy Device (Series No: 6196 USA). After approximately 36 h of the irradiation, these rats were sacrificed with high-dose anesthesia, and their liver and kidney tissues were quickly removed. Group III (thymol + ionizing radiation group): Including rats that received thymol (7.5 mg/kg body weight) prepared in 0.5% DMSO and administered orally once a day for 14 days through an intragastric tube. The ionizing radiation was applied 12 h following the administration of the last thymol dose. The thymol dose was selected as suggested elsewhere.[]

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Procedures
Immediately after necropsy, the kidney and liver tissue samples were placed in formalin solution for 48 h for histopathological evaluation. They were then stained with hematoxylin-eosin stain and examined under a light microscope (DM 1000; Leica, Germany). All specimens intended for immunoperoxidase assay were passed through graded xylol and alcohol series. Phosphatebuffered saline (PBS) was then applied to the sections and placed into 3% H2O2 for 10 min for endogenous peroxidase inactivation. In order to reveal the antigen contained in the tissues, the specimens were permitted to cool together with a retrieval solution, following processing in a microwave oven for 2×5 min at 500 watts. The tissues were incubated with caspase-3 and 8-OHdG (Catalog no: sc-56053, sc-66036 Santa Cruz, USA) at 60 min with an apoptotic marker at 37 °C. An immunohistochemistry kit (AbcamHRP/DAB Detection IHC kit) was used as per the manufacturer"s instructions. 3-3-Diaminobenzidine (DAB) was used as the chromogen. Hematoxylin was applied for soil staining. The sections were classified as either non-positive (-), mild (+), moderate (++), severe (+++), or very severe (++++).

Biochemical Procedures
Immediately after collection, the kidney and liver tissues were washed in cold saline and stored at -80 °C. Briefly, the tissues were crushed in liquid nitrogen using the Tissue Lyser II Grinding Jar Set (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Approximately 50 mg of the sample was homogenized in 1 mL of PBS homogenate buffer inside an Eppendorf tube by using the Tissue Lyser II set, followed by centrifugation. The SOD, GSH, and MDA levels of the homogenates were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay), as described in some previous studies.[-]

Statistical Analysis
One-way analysis of variance and Duncan's test were applied for the analysis of the oxidant and antioxidant parameters. At histopathological examination, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare the differences between semi-quantitative data and the Mann-Whitney U-test so as to compare the binary groups. The SPSS 13.0 software was used for all analyses. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (mean±SD). The P values of 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results


Group I: The examination of liver tissues revealed a normal histological structure (Fig. 1a). Group II: Mild coagulation necrosis was recorded in the hepatocytes, moderate hydropic degeneration in the hepatocytes, and dilatation and hyperemia in the sinusoids (Fig. 1b). Group III: Although mild hydropic degeneration was recorded, no necrotic cells were detected. Sinusoidal dilatation and hyperemia were present (Figure 1c). Tissue damage was significantly lower in Group III than in Group II (p<0.05). Histopathological data are shown in Table 1.

Fig 1: Group I - normal histological appearance in hepatocytes (a); Group II - mild necrosis (arrows) and severe hydropic degeneration in the hepatocytes (arrowheads) and hyperemia (star) (b); Group III - hydropic degeneration in the hepatocytes (arrowheads), moderate dilatation, and hyperemia in sinusoids (c); H & E, Scale Bar=20 µm.

Table 1: Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in liver and kidney tissues

Histopathological Findings for the Kidney Tissues
Group I: The kidney tissues exhibited a normal histological structure (Fig. 2a). Group II: The renal tissues exhibited severe hydropic degeneration and moderate coagulation necrosis, together with hyperemia in the interstitial vessels (Fig. 2b). Group III: Mild hydropic degeneration was noted in the renal tissues (Fig. 2c). The severity of damage was lower in Group III than in Group II (p<0.05). Histopathological data are shown in Table 1.

Fig 2: Group I - normal histological appearance in the renal tissues (a); Group II - moderate necrosis in the tubular epithelium (arrows) and severe hydropic degeneration in the tubular epithelium (arrowheads) (b); Group III - mild hydropic degeneration in the tubular epithelium (arrows); (c) -H & E, Scale bar = 20 µm.

Immunohistochemical Findings in the Liver Tissues
Group I: No expression of caspase-3 was detected on immunohistochemical examination of the liver tissues (Fig. 3a). Group II: Severe cytoplasmic caspase-3 expression was observed in the hepatocytes (Fig. 3b). Group III: Mild expression of caspase-3 was observed (Fig. 3c). However, immunopositivity decreased significantly when compared to that in Group II (p<0.05). Histopathological data are shown in Table 1.

Fig 3: Group I- liver tissue caspase-3 expression negative (a); Group II - moderate expression of hepatoplasmic caspase-3 in the hepatocytes (arrowheads); (b) Group III - mild expression of caspase-3 in the hepatocytes (arrowheads); (c) - IHC-P, Scale bar = 20 µm.

Immunohistochemical Findings in the Kidney Tissues
Group I: Immunohistochemical examination of the renal tissues revealed no 8-OHdG expression (Fig. 4a). Group II: Severe expression of intracytoplasmic 8-OHdG was observed in the tubular epithelium (Fig. 4b). Group III: Mild expression of intracytoplasmic 8-OHdG was observed (Fig. 4c). The immunopositivity decreased significantly when compared with that in Group II (p<0.05). Histopathological data are shown in Table 1.

Fig 4: Group I - kidney tissue 8-OHdG expression negative (a); Group II - severe cytoplasmic 8-OHdG expression in the tubular epithelium (arrows) (b); Group III - mild cytoplasmic 8-OHdG expression in the hepatocytes (arrowheads); (c) - IHC-P, Scale bar = 20 µm.

Biochemical Results for the Liver and Kidney Tissues
The parameter values of the rat groups are expressed as mean±SD in Table 2. The level of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and kidney tissues were found to be significantly elevated in Group II than in Group I (p<0.001 for both the tissues), but they were significantly lower in Group III than in Group II (p<0.01 for both the tissues). Moreover, the plasma MDA level in both the tissues was increased in Group III than in Group I (p<0.05 for both the tissues). The level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the liver and kidney tissues were significant decreased in Group II than in Group I (p<0.001 for both the tissues and for both the parameters), while these parameters were increased in Group III than in Group II (p<0.05 for both the tissues and for both the parameters). Furthermore, the plasma SOD and GSH levels in both the tissues were decreased in Group III than in Group I (p<0.05 for both the tissues and for both the parameters).

Table 2: Superoxide dismutase, glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in liver and kidney tissues

Discussion

In this study, while the antioxidant activity was decreased due to ionizing radiation application, the level of the oxidant agents was increased in the experimental rats. Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 and 8-OHdG were also aggravated in the rats. However, it was observed that these abnormal results could be corrected by thymol treatment in the experimental groups. All these findings are supported by the relevant pathological imaging data in the study. Both healthy individuals and patients are often exposed to ionizing radiation during medical procedures that involve diagnosis and treatment of tumors.[] Ionizing radiation is employed for the treatment of cancer as well as in angiography and various imaging protocols. However, the radiation exposure causes undesirable side-effects. For instance, ionizing radiation has been shown to cause DNA damage that result in cell death and neoplastic conversion of the cells.[,] Ionizing radiation therapy has been reported to increase the production of highly reactive free radicals at the cellular level.[,] It reacts with biological molecules such as proteins, lipid, and DNA to produce fatal outcomes in the cells.[] As a result, free radicals adversely affect the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, which are known to catalyze the conversion of superoxide radicals into H2O2 and O2, which weakens the antioxidant defense systems at the cellular level.[,] Oxidative species such as MDA, a lipid peroxidation end-product, can be produced during ionizing radiation procedures. Various methods for alleviating or eliminating oxidative damage resultant from ionizing radiation have been investigated previously.[-] Decreases in the SOD levels and in the activities of various antioxidant enzyme activities together with increased levels of MDA have been reported in the kidney, lung, and thyroid tissues as well as in the plasma due to exposure to ionizing radiation.[,] Our study findings revealed an increase in the MDA concentrations accompanied by a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme levels in the liver and kidney tissues due to exposure to ionizing radiation. In addition, apoptosis has been implicated in cell death caused by ionizing radiation in several studies.[] The reaction of free radicals with direct genetic material in the cells results in various forms of DNA base damage, and 8-OHdG produced during this process is one of the most commonly observed products. 8-OHdG has been described as an important marker of DNA damage both in vivo and in vivo.[] Our findings revealed an increase in the 8-OHdG expression levels in the renal tissues of rats exposed to ionizing radiation in the present study. Thymol treatment also significantly alleviated the 8-OHdG expression in kidney tissues. Thymol is a typical oxidative damage marker in the living cells. The defense mechanism that functions to destroy damaged cells, known as apoptosis or programmed cell death, has also been reported to be effective in protecting cells against DNA damage. However, ionizing radiation affects the defense system in cells to initiate the apoptotic signaling pathway resulting from severe DNA damage.[21-24] Caspases have been demonstrated to assume a critical function in the delivery of apoptotic signals in the cells. A previous study also reported higher caspase-3 activity in colonic tissues due to exposure to ionizing radiations.[] In addition, the caspase-3 expression in liver tissues was exacerbated in ionized-radiation-treated rats in our study. However, the caspase-3 expression was reduced by thymol treatment. In addition to our biochemical and immunohistochemical findings, data on oxidative tissue damage was also supported by the pathological findings. In other words, the results of the examination of the pathological tissues and other results are mutually compatible.

Thymol scavenges intensive free radicals produced in various experimental models.[,] Thymol also exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and radioprotective effects.[,] Our results showed that thymol may be useful in diagnostic or therapeutic protocols for the attenuation of oxidative tissue damages caused via the ionizing radiation therapy. However, there are several limitations to this study. For instance, previous studies and our own data indicate that ionizing radiation therapy, which is frequently employed for a variety of purposes in a clinical setting, may induce oxidative stress responses by forming hazardous metabolites and weakening the antioxidant defense system. However, our results indicate that thymol may be a promising agent for preventing or decreasing oxidative tissue damage due to ionizing radiation therapy. Nonetheless, further scientific studies, including randomized controlled trials, are warranted to validate our findings in a relevant clinical setting.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest

Ethics Committee Approval: This experimental study was approved by the Atatürk University Local Animal Ethics Committee (27.04.2018/114), and the experimental procedures were conducted at the Atatürk University Medical Faculty Department of Radiation Oncology, the Veterinary Faculty Pathology Laboratory, the Faculty of Pharmacy Biochemistry Laboratory, and the Experimental Animal Research and Application Center (ATADEM), Turkey.

Financial Support: The authors declare that this study received no financial support.

Authorship contributions: Concept - H.K.Ö.; Design - H.K.Ö., F.N.E.A.; Supervision - H.K.Ö., F.N.E.A., A.T.; Funding - None; Materials - H.K.Ö., F.N.E.A., A.T.; Data collection and/or processing - H.K.Ö., S.Y., Y.B., G.E., A.K., Y.Ş.; Data analysis and/or interpretation - H.K.Ö., S.Y., Y.B., G.E., A.K., Y.Ş.; Literature search - H.K.Ö., F.N.E.A.; Writing - H.K.Ö.; Critical review - H.K.Ö., F.N.E.A.

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