Hydrogen-rich water alleviates radiation-induced injury to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective effect of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on radiation-induced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) injury. Methods Totally 32 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups with 8 mice in each group, including control, HRW, radiation and radiation + HRW. Mice in HRW and radiation + HRW groups received 0.5 ml hydrogen-rich water per day by intragastric administration 5 min before irradiation until 7 d post-irradiation. Mice in other groups received 0.5 ml distilled water. Mice in radiation and radiation + HRW group were irradiated with 2 Gy of total body irradiation. Bone marrow cells were isolated at 15 d post-irradiation, and LSK cells were examined for the percentage of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, the ability of colony formation and reconstitution, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and cell apoptosis. Results Compared with radiation group, the percentages of hematopoietic progenitor cells and LSK cells, colony number of bone marrow cells were significantly increased in radiation + HRW group (t=-4.935, -7.898, 5.488, P<0.05). An elevation of donor chimerism was also found in recipient mice administered HRW after competitive bone marrow transplantation (t=-12.769, P<0.05). Compared with radiation group, the ROS levels and cell apoptosis in LSK cells were significantly decreased (t=4.380, 3.954, P<0.05). Conclusions Hydrogen-rich water exhibited a protective effect on radiation-induced HSPCs injury. Key words: Hydrogen-rich water; Ionizing radiation; Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells; Reactive oxygen species