Ganoderma lucidum Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity through Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling and Autophagy-Mediated Apoptosis

Abstract EN

Background.

Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum, CDDP) is a broad-spectrum antineoplastic agent.

However, CDDP has been blamed for its nephrotoxicity, which is the main dose-limiting adverse effect.

Ganoderma lucidum (GL), a medicinal mushroom, has antioxidant and inflammatory activities.

Therefore, this study is aimed at finding out the potential nephroprotection of GL against CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and the possible molecular mechanisms including the EGFR downstream signaling, apoptosis, and autophagy.

Methods.

Rats were given GL (500 mg/kg) for 10 days and a single injection of CDDP (12 mg/kg, i.p).

Results.

Nephrotoxicity was evidenced by a significant increase in renal indices and oxidative stress markers.

Additionally, CDDP showed a plethora of inflammatory and apoptotic responses as evidenced by a profound increase of HMGB-1, NF-κB, and caspase-3 expressions, whereas administration of GL significantly improved all these indices as well as the histopathological insults.

Renal expression of EGFR showed a similar trend after GL administration.

Furthermore, activation of autophagy protein, LC3 II, was found to be involved in GL-mediated nephroprotection correlated with the downregulation of apoptotic signaling, caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) renal expressions.

Conclusion.

These results suggest that GL might have improved CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and autophagy-mediated apoptosis mechanisms and that inhibition of EGFR signaling might be involved in nephroprotection.