Urolithin A-laden functional nanoparticles alleviate cisplatin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice by inhibiting...

Cisplatin (CIS) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent, but its use is associated with side effects such as lymphangiogenesis and cardiotoxicity. Anti-VEGF therapies are commonly employed to mitigate these effects by inhibiting cancer-related angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Building on our previous work, where gambogic acid (GA)-decorated nanoparticles (P2Ns-GA) enhanced the oral bioavailability of urolithin A (UA) and protected against CIS-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), this study identifies a novel role for UA in preventing CIS-induced lymphangiogenesis in mice. Our findings show that UA-loaded nanoparticles (P2Ns-GA-UA) significantly reduce markers of lymphangiogenesis, such as VEGF-C, Prox1, and LYVE1, compared to the CIS-only group. Additionally, P2Ns-GA-UA treatment decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-18) and tissue remodeling markers (sP-selectin, sE-selectin, PECAM-1, proMMP-9, and PAI-1). Immunofluorescence analysis of cardiac tissue shows improved mitochondrial biogenesis, regulated by PGC1α, and reduced expression of TNNT2 and VEGF-C, suggesting protection against CIS-induced cardiotoxicity. To evaluate the effectiveness of P2Ns-GA-UA, we used a ranking system based on markers of inflammation, lymphangiogenesis and tissue repair. Despite the complexity of CIS-induced cardiotoxicity, P2Ns-GA-UA ranked first 17 times out of 23 markers, outperforming other treatments. This ranking method offers a practical way to measure treatment effectiveness. These findings suggest that P2Ns-GA-UA offers significant protection against both CIS-induced lymphangiogenesis and cardiotoxicity, highlighting its potential for further exploration in cancer models.