The possible protective and therapeutic roles of fucoidan in cyclosporine-induced histological changes in the bone marrow and spleen in rats

Background : Cyclosporine A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressive agent, has several adverse effects. Mild myelotoxicity and splenic toxicity has been reported after the administration of CsA. Fucoidan (FU) is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from marine algae, and it has numerous biological activities, acting as an antioxidant and immune-modulator. The aims of the study were therefore to evaluate whether CsA toxicity in the bone marrow and spleen are dose and duration dependent and also to study the possible protective and therapeutic role of FU in these tissues. Materials and methods :Rats were divided into six equal groups. Group C1 and group C2 were used as controls. Group CAI was treated with a small dose of CsA, group CAI+FUI was treated with CsA concomitant with FU, group CAII was treated with a high dose of CsA and allowed to recover for another 10 days, and group CAII+FUII was treated with CsA, followed by with FU for another 10 days. Result :After a small dose of CsA was administered, the bone marrow showed numerous plasma cells, with variable degrees of degenerative changes, and macrophages. After FU treatment, immature and healthy cells were increased. After a large dose of CsA was administered, marked degenerative changes were observed, the changes that occurred later were ameliorated after FU treatment. Moreover, reductions in CD3+, major histocompatibility complex II+ expression in the spleen as well as interleukin-2 levels in the plasma were observed after CsA; these changes were ameliorated to varying degrees after FU treatment. Conclusion:CsA exerted dose-dependent and duration-dependent toxicity in the bone marrow and spleen. FU treatment exerted immune-modulator and antioxidant effects against CsA-induced changes in the bone marrow and spleen.