Protective effects of quercetin against cyclophosphamide-induced hepatic and renal injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of HSP70

Objective: Cyclophosphamide is a widely used alkylating agent in the treatment of various malignancies and autoimmune disorders; however, its clinical application is limited by its toxic effects on several organs, particularly the liver and kidneys. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity on histopathological alterations and HSP70 immunoreactivity in liver and kidney tissues, as well as to evaluate the potential protective effect of quercetin.Methods: A total of 28 female Wistar albino rats weighing 250–350 g were randomly allocated into four experimental groups. At the end of the experimental period, liver and kidney tissues were collected, processed using routine histological procedures, and embedded in paraffin. Histopathological changes were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, while HSP70 immunoreactivity was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis.Results: Severe histopathological alterations were observed in the group III, whereas these changes were markedly attenuated in the group IV. In addition, HSP70 immunoreactivity was markedly reduced in the liver and kidney tissues of the group III compared with the group I. In contrast, HSP70 immunoreactivity in the group IV was comparable to that observed in the group I.Conclusion: These results suggest that HSP70 may serve as a potential biomarker for the assessment of cyclophosphamide-induced hepatic and renal injury. Furthermore, quercetin appears to exert a protective effect against cyclophosphamide-induced tissue damage by preserving the cellular stress response, as evidenced by the maintenance of HSP70 immunoreactivity.