Toxicity Analysis of Recombinant L-asparaginase I and II in Zebrafish

L-asparaginases are extensively applied in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The treatment regime of ALL consists of asparaginase from E. coli or Erwinia. The survival rate post-chemotherapy has increased to < 90% in recent years. Asparaginase therapy has also resulted in numerous toxicities to patients receiving therapy. This study demonstrates the reaction of normal cells of Danio rerio to asparaginase therapy. L-asparaginase I and II used in the present study are from two probiotic Lactobacillus species in comparison with a commercial L-asparaginase of E. coli origin. Zebrafish adults were injected with 2500 U/kg body weight of L-asparaginase treatments. The expression of SOD 2, CAT, GST, GTP BP3, FADS2 were analyzed with EF1α as house-keeping gene. The p value obtained proves that the data are significant. The histology of the L-asparaginase I treated fishes showed dilated sinusoids in the liver and pseudocyst in the pancreas. The L-asparaginase II and commercial asparaginase showed no pathology.