Abstract
Ionising radiation has deleterious effects on human cells. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and cysteine, the active metabolite of NAC, are well-known radioprotective agents. Recently, a serine-magnesium sulfate combination was proposed as an antidote for organophosphate toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the use of a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture in the prevention of γ-radiation-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes as compared to NAC and cysteine. This study was carried out at the Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between April and September 2016. Citrated blood samples of 7 mL each were taken from 22 healthy subjects. Each sample was divided into 1 mL aliquots, with the first aliquot acting as the control while the second was exposed to 2 Gy of γ-radiation at a dose rate of 102.7 cGy/minute. The remaining aliquots were separately incubated with 600 μM concentrations each of serine, magnesium sulfate, serine-magnesium sulfate, NAC and cysteine before being exposed to 2 Gy of γ-radiation. Lymphocytes were isolated using a separation medium and methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium and comet assays were used to evaluate cell viability and DNA damage, respectively. The serine-magnesium sulfate mixture significantly increased lymphocyte viability and reduced DNA damage in comparison to serine, magnesium sulfate, NAC or cysteine alone (P <0.01 each). The findings of the present study support the use of a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture as a new, non-toxic, potent and efficient radioprotective agent.
Highlights
Ionising radiation has deleterious effects on human cells
This study aimed to investigate the use of a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture in the prevention of γ-radiation-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes as compared to NAC and cysteine
Advances in Knowledge - The findings of the present study demonstrated that a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture reduced γ-radiation cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in isolated human lymphocytes. - the radioprotective effects of a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture were greater than that of N-acetylcysteine and its active metabolite, cysteine
Summary
Abstract: Objectives: Ionising radiation has deleterious effects on human cells. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and cysteine, the active metabolite of NAC, are well-known radioprotective agents. - The results of this study may potentially be utilised at emergency medicine, radiotherapy and radiology centres to prevent and/or reduce γ-radiation toxicity among personnel; extensive in vivo studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of this new radioprotective agent among both animals and humans Both γ- and x-rays are forms of ionising radiation with sufficient energy to displace electrons from molecules; these released electrons can subsequently have deleterious effects on human cells, highly proliferating cells, with one of the most important cellular effects being DNA damage.[1,2,3] Lymphocytes are among the most radiosensitive cells which can be used to evaluate the effect of ionising radiation on humans.[1,2,3]. A MTT assay reflects the number of viable cells present.[7,8]
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