β-Pseudouridine, a beer component, reduces radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes

Abstract

We previously found that drinking beer reduces chromosome aberrations in blood lymphocytes that were collect and irradiated in vitro. In this study, human whole-blood was in vitro exposed to 200 kVp X-rays or 50 keV/μm carbon ions in the presence or absence of beer, ethanol and β-pseudouridine (one of the beer components). All three agents reduced the chromosome aberrations (dicentric) caused by either X-rays or carbon ions of 4 Gy. The maximum protection for X-rays by ethanol, beer and β-pseudouridine was 64, 26 and 34%, respectively, while the maximum protection for carbon-ion by ethanol, beer and β-pseudouridine was 22, 26 and 32%, respectively. It is concluded that β-pseudouridine, a nucleoside present in tRNA, is a potent protector against damage caused by radiation with direct and indirect actions.