Investigation of the effects of curcumin in rats with cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity

The major side effects that restricts cisplatin usage in solid tumor therapy is nephrotoxicity. The role of oxidative stress in cisplatin nephrotoxicity is evident. Curcumin is an antioxidant that inactivates the oxygene metabolites. Insertion of the chemicals into kidneys are via organic anion and cation transporters (OAT, OCT); and excretion to the urine of these molecules becomes via multi drug resistance associated proteins (MRP). In this study we investigated the effects of curcumin on OAT, OCT and MRP in rats with cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity.We used 6 weeks age 28 female Wistar albino rats. We seperated the rats into groups as; i: control; ii: curcumin (100 mg/kg/day); iii: cisplatin (7 mg/kg ? single dose, i.p); iv: curcumin (100 mg/kg/day)+cisplatin (7 mg/kg ? single dose, i.p).Serum urea and creatinin levels were significantly lower in group iv in comparison with group iii (p<0.001). Serum MDA levels were also lower in iv group than iii group (p<0.001). OCT1 and OCT2 expression increased in group iv in comparison with group iii (p<0.05). Also OAT1 and OAT3 expression increased in group iv in comparison with group iii (p<0.001). MRP2 and MRP4 expressions were lower in iv group than iii group (p<0.001). The histopathologic changes due to cisplatin were improved with curcumin.Cisplatin causes oxidative stress and renal injury. In conclusion, we determined that curcumin can prevent cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity via the elevation of OCT1, OCT2, OAT1, OAT3, MRP2 and MRP4 expression.Key words: Cisplatin, Nephrotoxicity, Curcumin, OCTs, OATs, MRPs