Norwegian researchers have identified a protein, called “Neuron-derived orphan receptor 1 (NOR-1)”, which has been shown to be effective in protecting the heart against the cardiac side effects of chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer, which relies on the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The latter can cause many side effects, such as heart problems.
- The administration of the NOR-1 protein would make it possible to limit the occurrence of cardiac lesions, induced by doxorubicin, by reducing cell death and keeping them in good health.
Hair loss, tingling, diarrhoea, weakening of the nails… These different symptoms can appear after chemotherapy. Among the possible side effects of this cancer treatment, there are also heart problems. These latter “can occur especially when anthracyclines such as doxorubicin or epirubicin have been administered. This effect is related to the total drug dose, therefore the maximum number of courses is often limited”, precise the National Cancer Institute.
Recently, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s) have found a way to limit the occurrence of these heart problems caused by chemotherapy. For this, they made a study published in the journal Biomedicines.
NOR-1 protein could keep more cells alive
“Physical activity has been shown to protect the heart against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (a form of toxicity specific to heart muscle) induced by doxorubicin, but the exact mechanism is still unknown,” the scientists said. They knew that the protein, called “Neuron-derived orphan receptor 1 (NOR-1)”, triggered by sport, had been shown to be effective against hypoxia, namely the lack of oxygen. This protein had also contributed to the survival of many cells.
“We therefore hypothesized that the NOR-1 protein could protect cardiomyocytes (cardiac muscle cells) against doxorubicin-induced cellular stress,” specified the scientists. To determine the protective effect of this protein on the heart, they carried out experiments to test in vitro the effect of the protein on human cells.
They found that administering the NOR-1 protein reduced cell death and helped keep them healthy. “Our results indicate that the NOR-1 protein may serve as a potential cardioprotective protein in response to doxorubicin-induced cellular stress,” concluded the study authors.
.
