Search

Methotrexate (MTX) is a cytotoxic immunosuppressant that is widely used in the treatment of tumours, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. This study aims to evaluate the effects of whey proteins on MTX-induced liver and kidney damage by focusing on oxidant–antioxidant systems and eating habits. The study was conducted in four groups of thirty Sprague–Dawley rats (control, control + whey protein concentrate (WPC), MTX, MTX + WPC). A single dose of 20 mg/kg MTX was administered intraperitoneally to the MTX groups. Control and MTX groups were given 2 g/kg WPC by oral gavage every day for 10 d. At the end of day 10, blood samples were drawn and liver and kidney tissues were removed. MTX administration increased the lipid peroxidation level and decreased glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in the liver and kidney. Administration of WPC significantly reduced the damage caused by MTX in the liver and kidney. While a decrease in serum urea level and an increase in serum creatinine level were detected in the MTX group, WPC administration reversed these results up to control group levels. Administration of WPC to the MTX group significantly reversed the histopathological damage scores of the liver and kidney. WPC administration ameliorated the MTX-induced oxidative damage in the liver and kidney tissues due to its antioxidant properties. Liver and kidney damage can be prevented by using whey proteins as a nutraceutical in MTX therapy. In conclusion, whey proteins demonstrated a protective effect against MTX-induced liver and kidney damage.

This study aims to investigate the effects of whey proteins on SARS CoV-2 in methotrexate-induced lung tissue damage in rats. To determine the possible effects, rats were divided into four groups as control, control + whey, methotrexate (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and methotrexate + whey. Whey protein concentrate (2 g/kg, oral gavage) was administered for 10 days. Cytokine levels were measured and protein electrophoresis was carried out in serum samples. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and glutathione level, and superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase activities were determined in lung samples. Inhibition of SARS CoV-2-targeted lung furin activity and SARS CoV-2 spike protein-angiotensin converting enzyme binding with whey protein concentrate were also measured in each group. In conclusion, whey protein concentrate improved methotrexate-induced lung damage and inhibited lung furin activity targeting SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 site cleavage and SARS CoV-2 spike protein-angiotensin converting enzyme binding. Whey proteins are potential protective candidates that inhibit SARS CoV-2-related interactions, even in methotrexate-induced lung injury. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Whey proteins have anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulating properties due to the protein, bioactive peptide, and essential amino acid content. Methotrexate is a folate antagonist and inhibits cell proliferation and purine synthesis. The combined use of whey protein concentrate and methotrexate may be an alternative in the development of new strategies to the treatment approaches against COVID-19. In addition, according to the results of this study, it is thought that the protective effect of whey proteins in healthy conditions before encountering the SARS CoV-2 may be higher than those who have never used it.

The aim of our study was to examine the effects of exercise and calorie_x000D_ restriction on various tissue damage and antioxidant parameters_x000D_ in the brain and testis of rats in a natural aging model. For this_x000D_ purpose, male Sprague-Dawley rats were the control group (C),_x000D_ the elderly (A), the elderly with calorie restriction (ACR), the elderly_x000D_ who were exercised (AE) and the elderly who were exercised with_x000D_ calorie restriction (ACRE), they were divided into 5 groups. The control_x000D_ group was composed of three-month-old animals. The other_x000D_ group consisted of 15-month-old rats. Exercise and calorie restriction_x000D_ were applied for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, lipid_x000D_ peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH) levels and_x000D_ superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase_x000D_ (GST) and tissue factor (TF) were determined in brain and_x000D_ testicular tissues homogenates. As a result of the study, the A_x000D_ group’s brain and testis LPO, NO levels and TF activity increased,_x000D_ GSH levels and SOD, CAT and GST activities decreased, when compared_x000D_ to the C group. As a result of our study, an increase in oxidant_x000D_ damage was observed with TF activity in the brain and testis in the_x000D_ natural aging model, and positive effects of exercise and calorie_x000D_ restriction on the antioxidant levels in the brain were determined,_x000D_ especially in aging. Amacımız doğal yaşlanma modelinde egzersiz ve kalori kısıtlamasının_x000D_ sıçanlarda beyin ve testiste çeşitli doku hasarı ve antioksidan_x000D_ parametreler üzerine etkilerinin incelenmesidir. Bu amaçla Sprague-_x000D_ Dawley sıçanlar kontrol (K), yaşlı (Y), kalori kısıtlaması uygulanan_x000D_ yaşlı (YKK), egzersiz uygulanan yaşlı (YE) ve kalori kısıtlaması ile_x000D_ egzersiz uygulanan yaşlı (YKKE) olmak üzere 5 gruba ayrıldı. Kontrol_x000D_ grubu üç aylık genç hayvanlardan oluşturuldu. Diğer gruplar_x000D_ 15 aylık sıçanlardan oluşturuldu. Egzersiz ve kalori kısıtlaması 6_x000D_ hafta boyunca uygulandı. Deney sonunda beyin ve testis dokuları_x000D_ homojenatlarında lipit peroksidasyon (LPO), nitrik oksit (NO), glutatyon_x000D_ (GSH) düzeyleri ile süperoksit dismutaz (SOD), katalaz (CAT),_x000D_ glutatyon-S-transferaz (GST) ve doku faktörü (DF) aktiviteleri tayin_x000D_ edildi. Çalışma sonucunda K grubu ile kıyaslandığında Y grubunda,_x000D_ beyin ve testis LPO, NO düzeyleri ve DF aktivitelerinin arttığı, GSH_x000D_ düzeyleri ile SOD, CAT ve GST aktivitelerinin ise azaldığı gözlendi._x000D_ Doğal yaşlanma modelinde beyin ve testiste DF aktivitesi ile beraber_x000D_ oksidan hasarda artış gözlenmiş olup, özellikle yaşlanmada_x000D_ egzersiz ve kalori kısıtlamasının beyinde antioksidan düzeyleri üzerinde_x000D_ olumlu etkileri belirlenmiştir.