N-acetylcysteine modulates cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression, liver injury, and oxidative stress in miniature pigs.
Cyclophosphamide, a cytotoxic anticancer agent, induces immunosuppression and has several adverse effects. N-acetylcysteine alleviates oxidative stress, liver injury, and intestinal tissue damage. The present study examined whether N-acetylcysteine modulates the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide in pigs. Miniature pigs (n = 15) were used as an experimental model to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment on immune reactions, liver injury, and oxidative stress after cyclophosphamide challenge. Corn-soybean meal based dietary treatments were as follows: control diet with either saline injection, cyclophosphamide injection, or 0.5% N-acetylcysteine and cyclophosphamide injection. N-acetylcysteine increased the number of immune cells and decreased TNF-α production after cyclophosphamide injection and decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, NF-κB, and IL-8 expression and increased IL-10 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Serum levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased, superoxide dismutase activity increased, and malondialdehyde activity decreased following N-acetylcysteine treatment after cyclophosphamide injection. N-acetylcysteine decreases immunosuppression, liver injury, and oxidative stress in cyclophosphamide-challenged miniature pigs. The present study suggests that N-acetylcysteine has therapeutic application in livestock for modulating immune reactions, liver injury, and oxidative stress.
['Kang|Kyung Soo|KS|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5547-7215', 'Shin|Sangsu|S|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5264-9632', 'Lee|Sang In|SI|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0019-1834']
N-acetylcysteine Miniature pig Cyclophosphamide Peripheral blood mononuclear cells