Original article

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome may attenuate nephrotoxicity by modulating cyclooxygenase-2 and caspase-3 levels in Wistar rats: an ELISA-based analysis

Authors

• • Dedy Syahrizal dedysyahrizal@usk.ac.id Email Dedy Syahrizal. (compose email, opens in email app.) Dedy Syahrizal ORCID profile. (opens in new tab)
  • • Conceptualization
    • Data Curation
    • Formal Analysis
    • Funding Acquisition
    • Investigation
    • Methodology
    • Supervision
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine
  • Universitas Syiah Kuala View ROR record for Universitas Syiah Kuala. (opens in new tab)
• • Rika Farhana
  • • Data Curation
    • Formal Analysis
    • Investigation
    • Project Administration
    • Writing - Original Draft
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Master Program in Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine
  • Universitas Syiah Kuala View ROR record for Universitas Syiah Kuala. (opens in new tab)
• • Jufriady Ismy
  • • Methodology
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine/RSUD Dr Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia
• • Fauzul Husna
  • • Methodology
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine
  • Universitas Syiah Kuala View ROR record for Universitas Syiah Kuala. (opens in new tab)
• • Zulkarnain Zulkarnain
  • • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine
  • Universitas Syiah Kuala View ROR record for Universitas Syiah Kuala. (opens in new tab)
• • Agung Pranata
  • • Investigation
    • Writing - Original Draft
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  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine
  • Universitas Syiah Kuala View ROR record for Universitas Syiah Kuala. (opens in new tab)

Abstract

Aim: Nephrotoxicity is a major clinical concern because it can impair kidney function through inflammation and apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived secretome on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and caspase-3 levels in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: normal control (NC), nephrotoxicity control (TC), early MSC-derived secretome treatment (P1), and delayed MSC-derived secretome treatment (P2). Nephrotoxicity was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg body weight). MSC-derived secretome was administered intravenously (0.15 mL) immediately after doxorubicin injection in the P1 group, and administered to the P2 group on day 5 after doxorubicin injection. All rats were euthanised on day 12. COX-2 and caspase-3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: A significant overall difference in COX-2 levels was observed among groups (p = 0.035). A strong, statistically significant positive correlation was observed between COX-2 and caspase-3 levels (r = 0.684, p = 0.002). The lowest COX-2 levels were found in the P1 group. No significant differences in caspase-3 levels were observed.

Conclusion: This study showed a significant overall difference in renal COX-2 levels among groups in a doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity rat model; however, Holm-adjusted post hoc comparisons did not confirm significant pairwise differences. Caspase-3 levels did not differ significantly among groups. These findings suggest that MSC-derived secretome may have potential anti-inflammatory effects, particularly when administered early after doxorubicin exposure, but further studies are required to confirm its effects on renal inflammation and apoptosis.

Keywords: apoptosis, doxorubicin, inflammation, kidney injury, regenerative medicine

How to Cite: Syahrizal, D. , Farhana, R. , Ismy, J. , Husna, F. , Zulkarnain, Z. & Pranata, A. (2026) “Mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome may attenuate nephrotoxicity by modulating cyclooxygenase-2 and caspase-3 levels in Wistar rats: an ELISA-based analysis”, Medicinski glasnik. 23(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.17392/medglas-2177-23-2