Silver nanoparticles enhance oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in liver and kidney tissues: Potential protective role of thymoquinone

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most common nanomaterials in consumer products. Therefore, it ‎has been crucial to control AgNPs toxicological effects to improve their safety and increase the outcome of their applications. This work investigated the possible protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) against ‎AgNPs-induced hepatic and renal cytotoxicity in rats. Serum markers of liver and kidney functions as ‎well as liver and kidney oxidative stress status, pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis markers, and ‎histopathology were assessed. TQ reversed AgNPs-induced elevation in serum liver and kidney function markers, including aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea, and ‎creatinine. Moreover, TQ co-administration with AgNPs alleviates hepatic and renal oxidative insults ‎by decreasing MDA and NO levels with a significant increase in the activity of ‎antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione recycling enzymes peroxidase ‎and reductase) compared to AgNPs-treated rats. Besides, TQ upregulated hepatic and renal Nrf2 gene ‎expression in AgNPs intoxicated rats. Furthermore, TQ co-administration decreased the hepatic and ‎renal pro-inflammatory mediators represented by, IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β, and NF-κB levels. Besides, TQ co-‎administration decreased apoptotic protein (Bax) levels and increased the anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) levels. These findings were confirmed by the histopathological examination of hepatic and renal ‎tissues. Our data affirmed the protective effect of TQ against AgNPs cytotoxicity and proposed a ‎possible mechanism of TQ antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Consequently, we ‎could conclude that using TQ might control AgNPs toxicological effects, improve their safety, and increase ‎the outcome of their applications.