Fullerene C 60 reduces acute lung injury by suppressing oxidative stress-mediated DMBA-induced apoptosis and autophagy by regulation of cytochrome-C/Caspase-3/Beclin-1/IL-1α/HO-1/p53 signaling pathways in rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fullerene C60 nanoparticles against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced lung tissue damage in rats. 15 Wistar albino (8 weeks old) female rats were assigned into four groups: Control Group (C), Fullerene C60 , DMBA, and Fullerene C60 +DMBA. The rats in the DMBA and Fullerene C60 +DMBA groups were administered DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage). The rats in Fullerene C60 , DMBA and Fullerene C60 +DMBA groups were administered with Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage). Expression levels of cytochrome-c, caspase-3, beclin-1, IL-1α, HO-1 and p53 proteins in lung tissue were determined by western blotting, lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) analyzes, glutathione (GSH), catalase activity (CAT) and total protein levels were determined by spectrophotometer. In addition, lung tissues were evaluated by histopathologically. Fullerene C60 reduced the increasing of MDA and IL-1α protein expression levels and attenuated histopathological changes in lung. Moreover, fullerene C60 enhanced the protein expression of cytochrome-C, caspase-3, Beclin-1, HO-1, and p53, which were decreasedin the DMBA group. Fullerene C60 has strong biological activity that it might be an effective approach for lung damage.