:: Volume 7, Issue 4 (Int J Mol Cell Med 2018) ::
Int J Mol Cell Med 2018, 7(4): 212-219 Back to browse issues page
Curcumin Mitigates Radiation-induced Lung Pneumonitis and Fibrosis in Rats
Paiman Amini1 , Hana Saffar2 , Elahe Motevaseli3 , Masoud Najafi4 , Ramezan Ali Taheri1 , Ali Qazvini5 , Mohammad Reza Nourani 6
1- Nanobiotechnology Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Clinical and Anatomical Pathologist at Tehran University of Medical Science, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department, School of Paramedical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
5- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
6- Nanobiotechnology Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , r.nourani@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (6258 Views)
Radiation-induced lung injury is one of the most prominent factors that interfere with chest cancer radiotherapy, and poses a great threat to patients exposed to total body irradiation. Upregulation of pro-oxidant enzymes is one of the main mechanisms through which the late effects of ionizing radiation on lung injury can be exerted. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are two important cytokines that have been proposed to be involved in this process. Through stimulation of dual oxidase 1 and 2 (DUOX1 & 2), they induce chronic oxidative stress in irradiated tissues. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin treatment on the regulation of IL-4 and IL-13, DUOX1 & 2 genes as well as the pathological changes developed by this treatment. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: radiation only; curcumin only; radiation + curcumin; and control group with neither pharmacotherapy nor radiation. Curcumin was administered for 4 and 6 consecutive days before and after irradiation, respectively. Also, the chest area was irradiated with 15 Gy using a cobalt-60 gamma rays source. All rats were sacrificed 67 days after irradiation followed by assessment of the levels of IL-4 and IL-13; the expression of IL-4 receptor-a1 (IL4Ra1), IL13Ra2, DUOX1 and DUOX2, and finally the histopathological changes were evaluated. Radiation led to the increased level of IL-4, while the level of IL-13 showed no change. QPCR results showed the upregulation of IL4Ra1, DUOX1 and DUOX2 following lung irradiation. Histopathological evaluation also showed a remarkable increase in pneumonitis and fibrosis. Treatment with curcumin downregulated the expression of IL-4, IL4Ra1, DUOX1 & 2. Furthermore, it could mitigate pneumonitis and fibrosis following lung irradiation. The late effects of radiation-induced lung injury may be due to the upregulation of DUOX1 & 2 genes. Curcumin, through modulation of these genes, may contribute to the protection against ionizing radiation. 
Keywords: Curcumin, radiation, radioprotection, DUOX1, DUOX2
Full-Text [PDF 575 kb]   (1909 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: Biomarkers (diagnosis & treatment)
Received: 2018/11/13 | Accepted: 2019/01/22 | Published: 2019/01/27



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Volume 7, Issue 4 (Int J Mol Cell Med 2018) Back to browse issues page