Author/Authors :
Najafi, Masoud Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering- Faculty of Medicine- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Shirazi, Alireza Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering- Faculty of Medicine- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Motevaseli, Elahe Department of Molecular Medicine- School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Geraily, Ghazale Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering- Faculty of Medicine- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Amini, Peyman Department of Radiology- Faculty of Paramedical- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Shabeeb, Dheyauldeen Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering- Faculty of Medicine- Tehran University of Medical Sciences (International Campus), Tehran , Musa, Ahmed Eleojo Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging- Tehran University of Medical Sciences (International Campus), Tehran
Abstract :
Lung injury is one of the major concerns for chest cancer patients that undergo radiotherapy as well as persons
exposed to an accidental radiological event. Reduction/oxidation (redox) system plays a key role in lung injury via
chronic upregulation of pro-oxidant enzymes. NOX2 and NOX4 are two important reactive oxygen species
generating enzymes that are involved in radiation toxicity in some organs such as the bone marrow. In this study, we
aimed to evaluate the expression of NOX2 and NOX4 signaling in rat’s lung tissues. Upregulation of these genes
may be involved in radiation-induced lung injury. Moreover, we evaluated the role of pre-treatment with melatonin
on the expression of these genes. Twenty male rats were divided into 4 groups as control; melatonin treated;
irradiation; and irradiation with melatonin pre-treatment. Rats were exposed to 15 Gy 60Co gamma rays and
sacrificed after 10 weeks for evaluation of NF-κB, TGFβR1, SMAD2, NOX2, and NOX4 gene expression by realtime
PCR. Results showed the upregulation of all five genes. The expression of NOX2 was more obvious compared
to other genes. Administration of melatonin before irradiation could attenuate the expression of all mentioned genes.
Results indicate that upregulation of NADPH oxidase genes such as NOX2 and NOX4 may be involved in the late
effects of lung exposure to ionizing radiation. Melatonin via downregulation of these pro-oxidant genes is able to
attenuate radiation toxicity in the lung.
Keywords :
Radiation , lung , NOX2 , NOX4 , TGFβR1 , SMAD2
