Efeito protetor da amifostina na neuropatia sensitiva periférica experimental induzida por oxaliplatina

Abstract

Oxaliplatin (OXP) is a third-generation platinum agent with potent cytotoxic activity in several cancers. Its limiting toxicity is a sensory peripheral neuropathy (SPN) of acute onset, which becomes chronic after cumulative doses. Amifostine (AMF) is a broad spectrum antioxidant and is currently being studied as a cell-protecting agent against the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of AMF on plantar mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal allodynia, as well as on histopathological alterations and immune expression of markers such as c-Fos protein, caspase 3, IL-1, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, nNOS and NMDA, observed in experimental OXL-induced SPN. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Research, Federal University of Ceará, through protocol 27/08. Male Swiss mice (25-35g) were treated with OXL (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and pre-treated with AMF (1, 5, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg, s.c.) for 4,5 weeks, in addition to the performance of nociceptive tests. Thermal allodynia was evaluated by tail immersion in cold water (10ºC), and plantar mechanical hyperalgesia by the Electronic Von Frey test. The histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of samples taken from the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord of the animals was performed in 24 hours, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. OXP significantly decreased mechanic and thermal nociceptive threshold since 21th day (p<0,001) and 14th day (p<0,01), respectively, when compared to control group. AMF treatment inhibited these effects in all doses tested (p<0,001), and the dose of 25mg/kg had the most significant effect. Locomotor impairment was not evidenced through Rota-Rod test. Furthermore, we observed edema and neurons atrophy in dorsal horn of OXP group, not showed in AMF group. OXP group had overexpression of c-Fos, caspase 3, nNOS, iNOS, and nitrotyrosine, but a reduced NMDA receptor expression when compared to control group. AMF group had hypoexpression of c-Fos and nitrotyrosine and increased NMDA receptor expression, but not altered caspase 3, nNOS and iNOS expression. There was no immunoexpression of IL-1 in the tested groups. Although preliminary, the data suggest that AMF promoted an important protection in OXL-induced SPN sensory changes, since it inhibited the hyperalgesia and allodynia, as well as the immunoexpression of c-Fos. Additionally AMF promoted significant protective action on tissue lesions, being able to exert antioxidant and antiapoptotic action by inhibiting the expression of nitrotyrosine and increasing expression of NMDA receptors, respectively.