Effect of azacytidine administration with/without folic acid on the histology and genomic DNA methylation of mice liver

Azacitidine is a cytosine analog and antineoplastic agent used in the therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes with mild to moderate liver injuries. Accordingly, this research implicated to evaluate the epigenetic effect of azacytidine on mice liver as a model organism and to determine the role of folic acid administration as a protective methyl donor micronutrient. Thus, forty-eight mice were divided into four groups, reliant on the kind of treatment they received, where animals received calculated doses of azacytidine and folic acid twice a week for three months. Then, animals were killed, and their livers were autopsied and examined for histopathological abnormalities, followed by a genetic assessment for the DNA banding pattern profile of the excised livers. It was found that the anticancer drug azacytidine processes a hepatotoxic effect, and it profoundly modifies the DNA banding pattern. While the combination of folic acid with the administration of azacytidine might induce a protective effect against azacytidine toxic effects, these findings might unravel essential insights and highlight new potential cancer therapeutics.