In Vivo Ameliorative Effects of Vitamin E Supplements against Hydralazine Induced Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
| dc.contributor.author | Githaiga, Fiona Muthoni | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-09-26T09:17:35Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-09-26T09:17:35Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-03 | |
| dc.description | A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Masters of Science (Biotechnology) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kenyatta University March, 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks body cells and tissues causing inflammation. The drug therapy in SLE states that organ threatening disease should be managed aggressively by high to low doses of corticosteroids often followed by institution of steroid sparing measures in the form of immunosuppressive. Long term use of these drugs have life threatening side effects. Toxic oxygen radicals such as hydrogen peroxide have been associated with the development of SLE. The aim of this project was to evaluate the potential of an anti-oxidant, Vitamin E to eliminate the hydrogen peroxide levels in hydralazine induced lupus, a disease model that closely resembles SLE. The experiment involved forty Bagg Albino (BALB) c mice aged three to four weeks comprising of twenty females and twenty males that were randomized into six different groups. Each group contained three males and three females. To mimic the pathogenesis of SLE, hydralazine hydrochloride 25mg/kg bdw was used to induce a lupus-like condition in mice from groups B to F. The mice from group A received 1.0ml of sterile water and served as the normal control. An anti-nuclear antibody test was carried out every seven days to monitor the development of autoantibodies, which are considered a hallmark of lupus. By the 35th day post hydralazine administration, ANA antibodies were confirmed in all treated groups. Drug treatments were initiated in all lupus-induced mice at the same time, daily for a period of another 35 days with the exception of group B that served as the negative control of lupus induced mice with no drug treatment. Group C received prednisolone 25 mg/kg bdw, Group D received methotrexate 25 mg/kg bdw, Group E received Vitamin E 25 mg/kg bdw, and Group F received Vitamin E 50 mg/kg bdw. Only the higher dose of Vitamin E significantly eliminated the levels of lymphocyte hydrogen peroxide associated with the pathogenesis of hydralazine induced lupus. Both doses of Vitamin E protected lupus-induced mice from alterations in all blood cells. Mice from the methotrexate treatment groups recorded significantly low levels of all blood cells. However, the prednisolone group recorded significantly low lymphocyte count with eosinophil and neutrophil counts significantly high. Notably, the prednisolone treated mice had significantly increased platelet count. Both doses of Vitamin E protected the mice from changes in liver biomarkers while prednisolone and methotrexate treatment groups showed significantly high levels of liver enzymes. Both doses of Vitamin E protected from alterations in the lipid profile. Prednisolone and methotrexate treatment groups had high ANA titer concentrations, Mice treated with Vitamin E had significantly low ANA titers. Vitamin E also was found to prevent injury to the kidney, liver, spleen, heart and brain. Prednisolone group had significantly elevated bodyweight compared to the normal control group. In conclusion, this study found Vitamin E supplementation was able to counter oxidative stress associated with the pathogenesis of lupus. Based on these findings, Vitamin E supplementation may be beneficial for improving the condition of SLE patients. Further research is recommended to explore other relevant free radicals in SLE and determine the optimal dosage of Vitamin E to effectively eliminate free radicals associated with SLE. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28898 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | In Vivo Ameliorative Effects of Vitamin E Supplements against Hydralazine Induced Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | |
| dc.type | Thesis |