Oxidative brain injury ascending from DMBA: Metabolomics and BRAF3/FKBR/A2m molecular signaling crosstalk

The current study explored brain damage that is associated with Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer. Induction was occurred in female Sprague-Dawley rats via 50 mg/kg DMBA followed by treatment with liposomal doxorubicin (5mg / kg) or titanium dioxide nanoparticles loaded doxorubicin (TiO 2 NP-DOX) (2mg / kg) for one month. Biochemical, molecular, and histopathological studies were accessed in addition to untargeted metabolomics study using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The current study revealed a significant reduction in the total antioxidant capacity besides a significant elevation of lipid peroxide values upon DMBA intoxication. Molecular quantification of FKBP5, A2m, BRAF and NF-kB mRNA gene expression revealed a significant reduction in both FKBP5 and A2M upon DMBA intoxication in contrast to a significant overexpression of BRAF and NF-kB mRNA gene expression. Meanwhile, liposomal doxorubicin and TiO 2 NP-DOX treated groups significantly modulate the aforementioned genes, with the superiority of TiO 2 NP-DOX treatment regimen. Protein expression of both AKT and PI3K recorded a significant elevation post DMBA intoxication. However, a highly significant downregulation was revealed in the protein expression post TiO 2 NP-DOX treatment. Interestingly, we found that various metabolites were downregulated whereas others were unregulated in DMBA intoxicated group. However, TiO 2 NP-DOX treatment regulated these altered metabolites. Histopathological examination of brain tissue confirmed the obtained results. In conclusion: TiO 2 NP-DOX could be a promising candidate for modulating oxidative stress, gene and protein expression malformation and oxidative brain injury associated with DMBA-induced carcinogenesis in rats and alters metabolites associated with mitigating inflammation and oxidative damage.