Mitoquinol mesylate ameliorates hematological aberration in cirrhotic-hepatocellular carcinogenic rats

Abstract

Introduction: Hematological abnormalities such as anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy necessitate the need to develop agents that stimulate erythropoiesis and boost immune response in cancer. Aim: The present study investigated the effects of mitoquinol mesylate (MitoQ) on the hematological profile of diethyl nitrosamine (DEN)-induced cirrhotic-hepatocellular carcinogenic (HCC) rats. Materials and Methods: One hundred Wistar strain albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 20) for the experimental period of 20 weeks. Groups A, B, and C received distilled water, 10 mg/kg each of DEN and MitoQ respectively. Animals in Group D were pretreated with 10 mg/kg MitoQ for a week followed by coadministration of 10 mg/kg each of MitoQ and DEN for 20 weeks, while Group E received 10 mg/kg DEN for 8 weeks and then coadministration of 10 mg/kg each of DEN and MitoQ till the end of 20th week. Animals were sacrificed at the end of 12th, 16th, and 20th week. Blood samples were collected into labeled heparinized bottles for hematological analysis. Results: Administration of DEN significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the levels of red blood cell (RBC) count and erythrocytes indices. These erythrogram parameters were continuously deranging from 6.86 ± 0.26 to 2.69 ± 0.01, from 37.40 ± 1.99 to 30.35 ± 0.57, from 12.16 ± 0.97 to 8.90 ± 0.37 in the levels of RBC, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin, respectively, with the progression of HCC from cirrhosis to advanced HCC in Wistar rats. Further, the levels of white blood cells (WBCs, 3.68 ± 0.08), granulocytes (1.30 ± 0.06), lymphocytes (0.63 ± 0.11), and platelets (440.00 ± 22.67) were significantly reduced in the DEN group compared to healthy control (4.46 ± 0.12, 2.14 ± 0.27, 1.70 ± 0.13, and 685.80 ± 15.48 in the levels of WBC, granulocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets, respectively) at the advanced HCC stage. Interestingly, MitoQ interventions significantly (P < 0.05) reversed alterations in hematological indices induced by DEN toxicity. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that MitoQ is safe and capable of normalizing hematological abnormalities associated with cirrhosis and HCC in Wistar rats.