Beneficial effects of ascorbic acid to treat lung fibrosis induced by paraquat

Abstract

Paraquat (PQ) is one of the most widely employed herbicides that is used worldwide and it causes severe toxic effects in humans and animals. A PQ exposition can lead to pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and the mechanisms seem to be linked to oxidative stress, although other pathways have been suggested. Antioxidants can be useful as a therapy, although interventions with this kind of system are still controversial. Hence, this study has investigated the role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) post-treatment on PQ-induced PF in male C57/BL6 mice. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by a single PQ injection (10mg/kg; i.p.). The control group received a PQ vehicle. Seven days after the PQ or vehicle injections, the mice received vitamin C (150 mg/kg, ip, once a day) or the vehicle, over the following 7 days. Twenty-four hours after the last dose of vitamin C or the vehicle, the mice were euthanized and their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and their lungs were collected. The data obtained showed that vitamin C reduced the cellular recruitment, the secretion of IL-17 –a cytokine involved in neutrophils migration, TGF-β–a pro-fibrotic mediator and the collagen deposition. Moreover, vitamin C elevated the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels, both antioxidant enzymes, but it did not alter the tracheal contractile response that was evoked by methacholine. Therefore, the researchers have highlighted the mechanisms of vitamin C as being non-invasive and have suggested it as a promising tool to treat lung fibrosis when it is induced by a PQ intoxication.

A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Clinical Presentation, and Management of the Pandemic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

“…Vitamin C Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) has a pleiotropic physiological role, but there is evidence supporting the protective effect of high dose intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) during sepsisinduced ARDS. Vitamin C reinforces the maintenance of the alveolar epithelial barrier and transcriptionally upregulates the protein channels (CFTR, aquaporin-5, ENaC, and Na+/K+ ATPase) regulating the alveolar fluid clearance [37]. HDIVC has been implicated in reducing plasma cell-free DNA formed from the neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) which is the facilitator of systemic inflammation in sepsis-induced multi-organ failure [38,39].…”

Overview of the possible role of vitamin C in management of COVID-19

“…In another experiment, a single injection of paraquat (a herbicide) induced lung fibrosis in male mice by increasing the oxidative stress. Treatment of paraquat-induced lung fibrosis by vitamin C was beneficial, which was evident by detecting elevated levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase, natural anti-oxidant enzymes, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid following treatment with vitamin C [ 58 ]. In fact, proinflammatory and pro-oxidant states are the main pathological processes which leads to development of ARDS [ 59 ].…”

Vitamins and Uterine Fibroids: Current Data on Pathophysiology and Possible Clinical Relevance

“…In a more recent study, vitamin C reduced cellular recruitment, cytokine secretion and TGF-β, and collagen deposition. However, it elevated antioxidant enzymes [93]. Moreover, vitamin C has been used as an element of the medium in some experiments on UF pathophysiology.…”

“…Potential antifibrotic effect [92,93] Role in signal transduction in uterine fibroids [122,131] Cell proliferation control [130] Extracellular matrix formation control [186] Antifibrotic effect [121] Tumor growth control [120,123] Vitamin D Potential protective role [133] Antioxidant effect [145,147] Vitamin E Phytoestrogen, potential role in tumor development and growth [102,146] Potential anti-inflammatory effect [179,180]…”