中医药防治放射性皮肤损伤的研究进展

放射性皮肤损伤是指放射线对皮肤照射所引起的急慢性皮肤损伤。核灾难、放射性事故、放射性治疗、职业暴露等都有可能造成放射性皮肤损伤的发生。大约95%接受放射治疗的患者最终会在治疗过程中或治疗过程后发展为辐射诱发性皮炎,因此如何正确防治放射性皮肤损伤具有重要的现实意义。中医认为,放射性皮肤损伤属于火热毒邪,阻滞气血,损伤肌表...     

Icariin protects against radiation-induced mortality and damage in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of icariin both in vivo and in vitro, an active flavonoid glucoside derived from medicinal herb Epimedium, and its possible mechanisms against radiation-induced injury.

Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to lethal dose (7?Gy) or sub-lethal dose (4?Gy) of whole body radiation by X-ray at a dose rate of ～0.55?Gy/min, and icariin was given three times at 24?h and 30?min before and 24?h after the irradiation. After irradiation, hematological, biochemical, and histological evaluations were performed. We further determined the effect of icariin on radiation-induced cytotoxicity and changes in apoptosis-related protein expression.

Results: Icariin enhanced the 30-day survival rates (20 and 40?mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner, and protected the radiosensitive organs such as intestine and testis from the radiation damages. Moreover, hematopoietic damage by radiation was significantly decreased in icariin-treated mice as demonstrated by the increases in number of peripheral blood cells, bone marrow cells (1.7-fold), and spleen colony forming units (1.7-fold). In addition, icariin decreased the radiation-induced oxidative stress by modulating endogenous antioxidant levels. Subsequent in vitro studies showed that icariin effectively increased cell viability (1.4-fold) and suppressed the expression of apoptosis-related proteins after irradiation.

Conclusion: These results suggest that icariin has significant protective effects against radiation-induced damages partly through its anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties.     

Therapy for prevention and treatment of skin ionizing radiation damage: a review

Abstract

Radiologic accidents or terrorist acts involving radioactive material, as well as radiation exposure in medical or industrial procedures are potential sources of risk for human health. All these risks share a common element, exposure to ionizing radiation. The extent of ionizing radiation injury will depend on a number of independent variables such as dose, type of radiation and tissue, etc. As a result of ionizing radiation exposure, biological effects can take place in acute or long-term manner. As in the case of other self-renewing tissues (e.g. hematopoietic system and intestinal epithelium), skin is also extremely sensitive to ionizing radiation. In this way, appropriate management of radiation skin effects might improve the therapeutic benefit of medical radiation therapy, as well as reduce the mortality associated with any radiological incident (e.g. accident or terrorist attack). For this reason, current and potential future treatment approaches for skin radiation injury are reviewed in this work. Unfortunately, there is no sufficient evidence for establishing a standard treatment to prevent or mitigate radiation-induced cutaneous injury. Thus, continued research is necessary to achieve effective therapies to address this important health problem.     

Arginine glutamate improves healing of radiation-induced skin ulcers in guinea pigs

Abstract

Purpose: The increase in the incidence of the radiation-induced skin injury cases and the absence of standard treatments escalate the interest in finding new and effective drugs for these lesions. We studied the effect of a 40% solution of arginine glutamate on the healing of radiation-induced skin ulcers in guinea pigs.

Materials and methods: Radiation skin injury was produced on the thigh of guinea pigs by 60 Gy local X-ray irradiation. Treatment was started 6 weeks after the irradiation when ulcers had been formed. Arginine glutamate was administered by subcutaneous injections around the wound edge. Methyluracil was chosen as the comparison drug. The animals were sacrificed on day 21 after the start of treatment and the irradiated skin tissues were subjected to histological evaluation, cytokines analysis, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes analysis.

Results: We have shown that arginine glutamate significantly (p < 0.05) decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the wound, restored the balance between lipid peroxidation formation and antioxidant enzymes activity and promoted cell proliferation as well as collagen synthesis.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that arginine glutamate successfully improves the healing of radiation-induced skin ulcers. In all probability, the curative effect is associated with the interaction of arginine with nitric oxide synthase II and arginase I, but further investigations are needed to validate this.     

Ionizing radiation does not impair the mechanisms controlling genetic stability during T cell receptor gene rearrangement in mice

Purpose: To determine whether low dose/low dose rate radiation-induced genetic instability may result from radiation-induced inactivation of mechanisms induced by the ATM-dependent DNA damage response checkpoint. To this end, we analysed the faithfulness of T cell receptor (TR) gene rearrangement by V(D)J recombination in DNA from mice exposed to a single dose of X-ray or chronically exposed to low dose rate γ radiation.

Materials and methods: Genomic DNA obtained from the blood or the thymus of wild type or Ogg1-deficient mice exposed to low (0.1) or intermediate/high (0.2–1?Gy) doses of radiation either by acute X-rays exposure or protracted exposure to low dose-rate γ-radiation was used to analyse by PCR the presence of illegitimate TR gene rearrangements.

Results: Radiation exposure does not increase the onset of TR gene trans-rearrangements in irradiated mice. In mice where it happens, trans-rearrangements remain sporadic events in developing T lymphocytes.

Conclusion: We concluded that low dose/low dose rate ionizing radiation (IR) exposure does not lead to widespread inactivation of ATM-dependent mechanisms, and therefore that the mechanisms enforcing genetic stability are not impaired by IR in developing lymphocytes and lymphocyte progenitors, including BM-derived hematopoietic stem cells, in low dose/low dose rate exposed mice.     

The effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on radiation-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Abstract

Purpose: Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease is a potentially severe side-effect of thoracic radiotherapy treatment. Clinically, this delayed side-effect presents as a form of accelerated atherosclerosis several years after irradiation. As general endothelial dysfunction is known to be an initiating event in radiation-induced vascular damage, we examined the effects of radiation on endothelial cells in radiation-induced atherosclerosis.

Materials and methods: The effects of radiation on human aortic endothelial cells (HAoEC) were assessed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays. Radiation-induced phenotypic changes of endothelial cells (ECs) were examined using atherosclerotic tissues of irradiated apoprotein E null (ApoE^?/?) mice.

Results: Radiation induced the HAoEC to undergo phenotypic conversion to form fibroblast-like cells, called the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which leads to the upregulation of mesenchymal cell markers such as alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP-1), and vimentin, and downregulation of endothelial cell-specific markers such as CD31 and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin. Furthermore, compared with low-density lipoprotein (LDL), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) significantly augmented radiation-induced EndMT in HAoEC. These fibrotic phenotypes of ECs were found in atherosclerotic tissues of irradiated ApoE^?/? mice with increased levels of ox-LDL.

Conclusions: Taken together, these observations suggest that ox-LDL accelerates radiation-induced EndMT and subsequently contributes to radiation-induced atherosclerosis, providing a novel target for the prevention of radiation-induced atherosclerosis.     

Cell Kinetics and Radiation Biology

Summary

The cell cycle, the growth fraction and cell loss influence the response of cells to radiation in many ways. The variation in radiosensitivity around the cell cycle, and the extent of radiation-induced delay in cell cycle progression have both been clearly demonstrated in vitro. This translates into a variable time of expression of radiation injury in different normal tissues, ranging from a few days in intestine to weeks, months or even years in slowly proliferating tissues like lung, kidney, bladder and spinal cord. The radiosensitivity of tumours, to single doses, is dominated by hypoxic cells which arise from the imbalance between tumour cell production and the proliferation and branching of the blood vessels needed to bring oxygen and other nutrients to each cell.

The response to fractionated radiation schedules is also influenced by the cell kinetic parameters of the cells comprising each tissue or tumour. This is described in terms of repair, redistribution, reoxygenation and repopulation. Slowly cycling cells show much more curved underlying cell survival curves, leading to more dramatic changes with fractionation, dose rate or l.e.t. Rapidly cycling cells redistribute around the cell cycle when the cells in sensitive phases have been killed, and experience less mitotic delay than slowly proliferating cells. Reoxygenation seems more effective in tumours with rapidly cycling cells and high natural cell loss rates. Compensatory repopulation within a treatment schedule may spare skin and mucosa but does not spare slowly proliferating tissues. Furthermore, tumour cell proliferation during fractionated radiotherapy may be an important factor limiting the overall success of treatment.     

Alpha-tocopherol succinate-mobilized progenitors improve intestinal integrity after whole body irradiation

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to elucidate the action of α-tocopherol succinate (TS)- and AMD3100-mobilized progenitors in mitigating radiation-induced injuries.

Material and methods: CD2F1 mice were exposed to a high dose of radiation and then transfused intravenously with 5 million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from TS- and AMD3100-injected mice after irradiation. Intestinal and splenic tissues were harvested after irradiation and cells of those tissues were analyzed for markers of apoptosis and mitosis. Bacterial translocation from gut to heart, spleen, and liver in TS-treated and irradiated mice was evaluated by bacterial culture.

Results: We observed that the infusion of PBMC from TS- and AMD3100-injected mice significantly inhibited apoptosis, increased cell proliferation in the analyzed tissues of recipient mice, and inhibited bacterial translocation to various organs compared to mice receiving cells from vehicle-mobilized cells. This study further supports our contention that the infusion of TS-mobilized progenitor-containing PBMC acts as a bridging therapy by inhibiting radiation-induced apoptosis, enhancing cell proliferation, and inhibiting bacterial translocation in irradiated mice.

Conclusions: We suggest that this novel bridging therapeutic approach that involves the infusion of TS-mobilized hematopoietic progenitors following acute radiation injury might be applicable to humans as well.     

Solar radiation induced skin damage: Review of protective and preventive options

Purpose:?Solar energy has a number of short- and long-term detrimental effects on skin that can result in several skin disorders. The aim of this review is to summarise current knowledge on endogenous systems within the skin for protection from solar radiation and present research findings to date, on the exogenous options for such skin photoprotection.

Results:?Endogenous systems for protection from solar radiation include melanin synthesis, epidermal thickening and an antioxidant network. Existing lesions are eliminated via repair mechanisms. Cells with irreparable damage undergo apoptosis. Excessive and chronic sun exposure however can overwhelm these mechanisms leading to photoaging and the development of cutaneous malignancies. Therefore exogenous means are a necessity. Exogenous protection includes sun avoidance, use of photoprotective clothing and sufficient application of broad-spectrum sunscreens as presently the best way to protect the skin. However other strategies that may enhance currently used means of protection are being investigated. These are often based on the endogenous protective response to solar light such as compounds that stimulate pigmentation, antioxidant enzymes, DNA repair enzymes, non-enzymatic antioxidants.

Conclusion:?More research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of new alternatives to photoprotection such as use of DNA repair and antioxidant enzymes and plant polyphenols and to find an efficient way for their delivery to the skin. New approaches to the prevention of skin damage are important especially for specific groups of people such as (young) children, photosensitive people and patients on immunosuppressive therapy. Changes in public awareness on the subject too must be made.     

Investigations of antioxidant-mediated protection and mitigation of radiation-induced DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in murine skin

Abstract

Purpose: Radioprotection and mitigation effects of the antioxidants, Eukarion (EUK)-207, curcumin, and the curcumin analogs D12 and D68, on radiation-induced DNA damage or lipid peroxidation in murine skin were investigated. These antioxidants were studied because they have been previously reported to protect or mitigate against radiation-induced skin reactions.

Methods: DNA damage was assessed using two different assays. A cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (MN) assay was performed on primary skin fibroblasts harvested from the skin of C3H/HeJ male mice 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks after 5 Gy or 10 Gy irradiation. Local skin or whole body irradiation (100 kVp X-rays or caesium (Cs)-137 γ-rays respectively) was performed. DNA damage was further quantified in keratinocytes by immunofluorescence staining of γ-histone 2AX (γ-H2AX) foci in formalin-fixed skin harvested 1 hour or 1 day post-whole body irradiation. Radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in the skin was investigated at the same time points as the MN assay by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) with a Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay.

Results: None of the studied antioxidants showed significant mitigation of skin DNA damage induced by local irradiation. However, when EUK-207 or curcumin were delivered before irradiation they provided some protection against DNA damage. In contrast, all the studied antioxidants demonstrated significant mitigating and protecting effects on radiation-induced lipid peroxidation at one or more of the three time points after local skin irradiation.

Conclusion: Our results show no evidence for mitigation of DNA damage by the antioxidants studied in contrast to mitigation of lipid peroxidation. Since these agents have been reported to mitigate skin reactions following irradiation, the data suggest that changes in lipid peroxidation levels in skin may reflect developing skin reactions better than residual post-irradiation DNA damage in skin cells. Further direct comparison studies are required to confirm this inference from the data.     

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation mediates synchrotron radiation X-ray-induced damage of rodent testes by exacerbating DNA damage and apoptotic changes

Abstract

Purposes: Synchrotron radiation (SR) X-ray has great potential for cancer treatment and medical imaging. It is of significance to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of SR X-ray irradiation on biological tissues, and search for the strategies for preventing the damaging effects of SR X-ray irradiation on normal tissues. The major aim of our current study is to test our hypothesis that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) plays a significant role in SR X-ray-induced tissue damage.

Methods and materials: The testes of rodents were pre-treated with PARP inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) or antioxidant N-acetyl-acetylcysteine (NAC), followed by SR X-ray irradiation. PARP activation, double-strand DNA breaks (DSB), Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) signals, caspase-3 activity and weight of the testes were determined.

Results: SR X-ray irradiation produced dose-dependent increases in poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) formation – an index of PARP activation, which can be prevented by NAC administration. Administration of 10 or 20 mg/kg 3-AB attenuated a variety of tissue injury induced by SR X-ray, including caspase-3 activation, increases in TUNEL signals and loss of testical weight. The PARP inhibitor also significantly decreased SR X-ray-induced γ-H2AX signal – a marker of DSB.

Conclusions: Our study has provided the first evidence suggesting that SR X-ray can induce PARP activation by generating oxidative stress, which leads to various tissue injuries at least partially by exacerbating DNA damage and apoptotic changes.     

INTRODUCTION

Abstract

Purpose: The target cells for radiation carcinogenesis are widely held to be stem or stem-like cells. Classically, stem cells are considered to be those capable of renewing tissues while differentiated cells lose the potential to replicate. More recently it has become apparent that greater developmental plasticity exists and that cells can be reprogrammed to form induced pluripotent stem cells. Modelling of radiation cancer-risk requires understanding of the characteristics, numbers and responses of target stem cells to radiation. Therefore progress in understanding mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis is dependent on knowledge of stem cell radiobiology.

Results: In this context, the European Community's network of excellence on low dose radiation risk called, ‘Low Dose Research towards Multidisciplinary Integration (DoReMi)’ (www.doremi-noe.net) and the United Kingdom's Health Protection Agency organised a workshop on Stem Cells and DNA damage in Oxfordshire on 7/8 December 2011 to address issues relating to radiation, DNA damage and stem cells. In keeping with the aim of improving understanding of low dose ionising radiation health risk, a panel of experts in stem cells and radiobiology were invited to this workshop. This summary includes all presentations at this workshop and is accompanied by full reports of several speakers.     

Milestones in normal tissue radiation biology over the past 50 years: From clonogenic cell survival to cytokine networks and back to stem cell recovery

Purpose: To illustrate the progress in normal tissue radiation biology over the last five decades and its impact on radiotherapy.

Materials and methods: Major milestones over the last 50 years and their consequences for radiation oncology are described: The identification of clonogenic cell survival and the (target) stem cell concept, the dissociation between early and late responding tissues with regard to dose fractionation and development of the linear-quadratic model, characterisation of the effect of overall treatment time, the definition of retreatment tolerance. Current knowledge of mechanisms of radiation pathogenesis is a basis for most recent approaches for amelioration of normal tissue effects.

Results: Advances in radiobiological research in normal tissues in the last 50 years have had a major impact on radiation oncology. This includes the linear-quadratic model to adjust doses in altered fractionation protocols, and quantitation of repopulation processes to avoid toxicities in accelerated regimen. Based on new insights into the pathogenesis of normal tissue radiation effects, promising strategies for their modulation, e.g., with cytokines or by stem cell therapy, have been developed.

Conclusions: Research on radiobiology with relevant in vivo models, and relevant treatment protocols is essential for the further progress in radiation oncology.     

Effect of ionizing radiation on liver protein oxidation and metabolic function in C57BL/6J mice

Abstract

Purpose: Protein oxidation in response to radiation results in DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress/unfolded protein response, cell cycle arrest, cell death and senescence. The liver, a relatively radiosensitive organ, undergoes measurable alterations in metabolic functions following irradiation. Accordingly, we investigated radiation-induced changes in liver metabolism and alterations in protein oxidation.

Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice were sham irradiated or exposed to 8.5 Gy ⁶⁰Co (0.6 Gy/min) total body irradiation. Metabolites and metabolic enzymes in the blood and liver tissue were analyzed. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and OxyBlot? were used to detect carbonylated proteins that were then identified by peptide mass fingerprinting.

Results: Analysis of serum metabolites revealed elevated glucose, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high-density lipoprotein, and aspartate aminotransferase within 24–72 h post irradiation. Liver tissue LDH and alkaline phosphatase activities were elevated 24–72 h post irradiation. OxyBlotting revealed that the hepatic proteome contains baseline protein carbonylation. Radiation exposure increased carbonylation of specific liver proteins including carbonic anhydrase 1, α-enolase, and regucalcin.

Conclusions: 8.5 Gy irradiation resulted in distinct metabolic alterations in hepatic functions. Coincident with these changes, radiation induced the carbonylation of specific liver enzymes. The oxidation of liver enzymes may underlie some radiation-induced alterations in hepatic function.     

基础心功能状况与急性放射性心脏损伤的相关性研究

目的 探讨胸部放疗基础心功能状况对急性放射性心脏损伤的影响,评价急性期内患者心功能的变化。方法 分析109例胸部肿瘤患者放疗后基础心功能状况对急性放射性心脏损伤的影响,并观察放疗前及急性观察期内心功能的变化。结果 全组患者急性放射性心脏损伤发生率为79.8%,患者临床因素及基础心功能各项指标与急性放射性心脏损伤发生均无明显相关(P>0.05)。放射治疗后急性期内出现左室收缩功能减低24例,舒张功能减低15例;瓣膜病变24例,全部为二尖瓣和(或)主动脉瓣改变,其中反流(轻、中度反流)23例、狭窄(轻度)1例,未见三尖瓣和(或)肺动脉瓣反流与狭窄。左房前后径、主动脉流速、E/A值在放疗前、放疗结束、自放疗开始3个月差异有统计学意义(F=8.552、0.017、0.003,P<0.05)。左房前后径、主动脉流速、E/A值放疗结束较放疗前分别下降了9.19%、7.56%、17.5%,自放疗开始3个月较放疗结束分别恢复7.05%、4.14%、7.58%,其中E/A下降和恢复变化幅度最大。结论 临床因素及基础心功能状况与急性放射性心脏损伤发生无明显相关。放疗导致的瓣膜病变以二尖瓣和(或)主动脉瓣轻、中度反流多见,并可引起左室收缩和舒张功能改变。左房前后径、E/A值放疗后首先降低,随着时间延长逐渐改善,但急性期内未能恢复到正常水平。急性观察期内放疗对心脏舒张功能的影响较收缩功能明显。     

Reduced chromosome aberration complexity in normal human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to low-LET γ-rays and high-LET α-particles

Abstract

Purpose: Cells of the lung are at risk from exposure to low and moderate doses of ionizing radiation from a range of environmental and medical sources. To help assess human health risks from such exposures, a better understanding of the frequency and types of chromosome aberration initially-induced in human lung cell types is required to link initial DNA damage and rearrangements with transmission potential and, to assess how this varies with radiation quality.

Materials and methods: We exposed normal human bronchial lung epithelial (NHBE) cells in vitro to 0.5 and 1 Gy low-linear energy transfer (LET) γ-rays and a low fluence of high-LET α-particles and assayed for chromosome aberrations in premature chromosome condensation (PCC) spreads by 24-color multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH).

Results: Both simple and complex aberrations were induced in a LET and dose-dependent manner; however, the frequency and complexity observed were reduced in comparison to that previously reported in spherical cell types after exposure to comparable doses or fluence of radiation. Approximately 1–2% of all exposed cells were categorized as being capable of transmitting radiation-induced chromosomal damage to future NHBE cell generations, irrespective of dose.

Conclusion: One possible mechanistic explanation for this reduced complexity is the differing geometric organization of chromosome territories within ellipsoid nuclei compared to spherical nuclei. This study highlights the need to better understand the role of nuclear organization in the formation of exchange aberrations and, the influence three-dimensional (3D) tissue architecture may have on this in vivo.     

Photobiological Activity of Furazolidone

Summary

Irradiated rats excrete an excess of taurine in the urine during the first day after exposure. The injection of a large dose of cortisone has a similar effect. If rats are given smaller injections of cortisone daily for a week, subsequent irradiation no longer increases the excretion of taurine. Since both cortisone and ionizing radiation readily destroy lymphocytes, it is thought that the radiation-induced excretion of taurine may be wholly accounted for by damage to lymphoid tissues, which contain a high concentration of taurine. The amount of taurine excreted after irradiation may provide an estimate of the total amount of lymphoid tissue in the body.     

Ionizing radiation induces degranulation of human mast cells and release of tryptase

Purpose: Skin fibrosis is a hallmark of ionizing radiation-induced tissue injury and we hypothesized that mast cells via their products (especially tryptase) are involved in this event. We therefore investigated whether: (i) irradiation with 5 Gray (Gy) is able to induce the release of the typical mast cell mediator tryptase from human mast cells (HMC-1) in vitro, (ii) this effect can be influenced by application of clinically relevant mast cell blockers, and (iii) irradiation leads to mast cell degranulation in ex vivo skin culture models.

Materials and methods: The human mast cell line (HMC)-1, as well as ex vivo skin tissue served as experimental models. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), mast cell degranulation assays and immunohistochemistry were applied.

Results: Ionizing radiation induces a time-dependent, statistically significant increase in the release of tryptase by HMC-1 cultured in vitro. Mast cell degranulation and secretion of tryptase was partially, but not significantly, inhibited by pre-incubation with the histamine-1 receptor (H1) blocker cetirizine. Mast cell degranulation was also clearly evident after irradiation using an ex vivo skin culture model of mastocytoma tissue.

Conclusions: We propose that ionizing radiation leads to a degranulation of dermal mast cells, an event which is accompanied by the release of tryptase.     

Gossypetin,a naturally occurring hexahydroxy flavone,ameliorates gamma radiation-mediated DNA damage

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the protective effect of gossypetin (GTIN) against gamma (γ)-radiation-mediated DNA damage.

Materials and methods: Increasing concentrations (10–150 μM) of GTIN were incubated with supercoiled DNA 1 h prior exposure to γ-radiation in the range of 5-Gy absorbed dose from Co⁶⁰ γ source. To establish the effective protective concentration of GTIN, supercoiled DNA was pre-incubated with 50 μM of GTIN for 1 h followed by exposure of 5, 10 and 20 Gy doses of γ-radiation. Moreover, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, metal chelating activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of GTIN were measured and compared with standards. The flowcytometric analysis and radiation-induced genomic DNA damage by comet assay were employed to estimate the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) using isolated murine hepatocytes.

Results: GTIN was able to effectively scavenge different free radicals in in vitro situations. It could significantly prevent radiation induced supercoiled and genomic DNA damage with reduced comet parameters. It also acted as a potent scavenger of the radiation induced ROS.

Conclusions: GTIN ameliorated radiation-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage by its free-radical scavenging activity.     

A combination of resveratrol and 3,3′-diindolylmethane,a potent radioprotector

Purpose: Exposure to ionizing radiation causes damage to the genomic integrity and stability of the cell. Though a large number of molecules have been studied for their radioprotective capability, no single agent is available today that meets all the requirements of a good radiprotector. In this study, we have investigated a combination of Resveratrol (RSV) and 3,3′-Diindolyl methane (DIM) for its efficacy for radioprotection. It is our hypothesis that this combination that possesses less toxicity than synthetic compounds, free radical scavenging potential, and the capacity to interfere with the several of the signaling cascades that trigger damage to cell by ionizing radiation may possess good radioprotective capability.

Materials and methods: Mice were pre-treated with a combination of RSV and DIM and the 30-day mortality assay, endogenous antioxidant levels in intestinal mucosa, metaphase chromosomal aberrations, and micronuclei formation were assessed after exposed to ionizing radiation.

Results: The dose modifying factor (DRF) obtained for RSV, DIM, and the combination is 1.15, 1.17, and 1.3, respectively. Pre-treatment of mice with the combination results in significant (***p?=?.001) protection of the endogenous antioxidant levels, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei formation, after exposure to ionizing radiation.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that pre-treatment with the combination of RSV and DIM protects effectively from the ionizing radiation-induced damage at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels by counteracting both the direct and indirect effects.