Flavonoid genistein protects bone marrow sinusoidal blood vessels from damage by methotrexate therapy in rats

Flavonoid genistein may have a potency to protect bone marrow sinusoids during methotrexate therapy, which is associated, at least partially, with its indirect effect of promoting angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor expression in osteoblasts and its direct effect of enhancing nitric oxide production in sinusoidal endothelial cells. AbstractCancer chemotherapy can cause significant damage to the bone marrow (BM) microvascular (sinusoidal) system. Investigations must now address whether and how BM sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) can be protected during chemotherapy. Herein we examined the potential protective effects of genistein, a soy ‐derived flavonoid, against BM sinusoidal damage caused by treatment with methotrexate (MTX). The groups of young adult rats were gavaged daily with genistein (20 mg/kg) or placebo. After 1 week, rats also received daily injections of MTX (0.75 mg/kg) or saline for 5 days and were killed after a further 4 days. Histological analyses showed that BM sinusoids were markedly dilated (p <  0.001) in the MTX‐alone group but were unaffected or less dilated in the genistein+MTX group. In control rats, genistein significantly enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF;p <  0.01), particularly in osteoblasts, and angiogenesis marker CD31 (p <  0.001) in bone. In MTX‐treated rats, genistein suppressed MTX‐induced apoptosis of BM SECs (p <  0.001 vs MTX alone group) and tended...
Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology - Category: Cytology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research