Phycobiliproteins and phycocyanin of Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina) reduce apoptosis promoters and glomerular dysfunction in mercury-related acute kidney injury

Abstract

Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina) is considered a nutraceutical or functional food because it provides health benefits and it is used as nephroprotector because it contains nucleophilic compounds as phycobiliproteins and phycocyanin that prevent oxidative stress and cellular damage process. Also, it is known that inorganic mercury is bioaccumulated and exerted kidney toxicity. Despite the nephroprotective effect of Spirulina and its components, there is not enough information about the effect of them on renal function as well as the apoptosis process inhibition. This work aimed to investigate whether phycobiliproteins and phycocyanin of Spirulina can improve HgCl 2 -related glomerular and tubular renal dysfunction as well as the Bax, Bcl 2 , and effectors caspases alterations. Male mice were administrated with Spirulina, phycobiliproteins or phycocyanin 30 min before 5 mg/Kg HgCl 2 administration. The nutraceuticals were administrated for the next 5 days. Then, the mice were euthanized. The renal function, caspases 3 and 9 activities, as well as Bax and Bcl 2 expression were evaluated. Spirulina and its components prevent HgCl 2 -related apoptosis induction and glomerular dysfunction. We concluded that phycobiliproteins and phycocyanin of Spirulina reduce glomerular damage but not the tubular dysfunction in a mercury-related acute kidney injury.

Protective effects of lutein against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury in mice via upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and inhibition nuclear factor-kappaB/caspase 3

“…Caspase-3 activity was measured using a colorimetric assay, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The kidney tissues were homogenized in 3 ml of 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) [ 23 ]. Detection of caspase-3 activity was predicated on the hydrolysis of the peptide substrate acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp p-nitroanilide by caspase-3.…”

Endoplasmic reticulum stress participates in the pathophysiology of mercury-caused acute kidney injury

“…72 h after mercury exposition, the apoptosis process is activated because the IRE1a kinase domain forms a complex with adaptor protein TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), the apoptosis signal regulator kinase 1 (ASK1), and the c-Jun kinases (JNK) [36]. This hypothesis is supported because mercury reduces the expression of BCL 2 y BCL XL with an increase of BAX, BAK, and caspase-12 [8,16,37]. This molecular event participates in the formation of the mitochondrial transition pore (MTP), which allows the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm to form the apoptosome [10].…”

“…Meanwhile, the control group was euthanized at 96 h using the same drug. Before euthanizing, six animals underwent renal function evaluation using a metabolic cage for 6 h without food and water as previously described [16]. The urine and serum samples were used to evaluate renal function.…”

“…Caspase 3 activity was assessed by using a commercial caspase 3 colorimetric assay kit (Millipore, APT165) as previously described [16].…”

Microalgal Derivatives as Potential Nutraceutical and Food Supplements for Human Health: A Focus on Cancer Prevention and Interception

“…The well-known and integrated health benefit of Spirulina also relies on the high presence of phycocyanin [135]. Indeed, health benefits from phycocyanin have been described [136], for instance as antioxidant [137], anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, free radical scavenger, immunomodulation and atheroprotective [134,138,139,140,141].…”