Resveratrol protects against acute radiation-induced lung injury in C57BL mice

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of resveratrol (RES) against acute radiation-induced lung injury (ARILI) in C57BL mice and explore its mechanism. Methods: Forty C57BL mice were randomly divided into four groups: un-irradiated and normal saline-treated group (n=10, group A), un-irradiated and RES-treated group (n=10, group B), radiation plus normal saline-treated group (n=10, group C) and radiation plus RES-treated group (n=10, group D). The models of ARILI in C57BL mice in groups C and D were established by whole thoracic 60Co γ-ray irradiation with a single dose of 16 Gy. Four hours after radiation, the mice in groups B and D were administered daily via gavage with RES (20 mg/kg) for 30 d, while the same volume of normal saline solution was given daily in the groups A and C. Then the lung section was taken for histopathologic examination. The serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) levels, the activities of MDA (malondialdehyde) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of hydroxide free radical were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The activity of MDA in lung tissues was also detected.  Results: Compared with group C, there was an obvious amelioration in pathological injury of lung tissue in group D. The activities of lung tissue and serum MDA, the serum content of hydroxide free radical and the serum levels of TGF-β1, IL1-β and NF-κB in group D were significantly lower than those in group C, while slightly higher than those in group A (P＜0.05). The activity of SOD was significantly higher in group D than that in group C, while lower than those in groups A and B (P＜0.05). There was no statistically significant differences in thses indicators between group A and group B (P＞0.05).  Conclusion: RES can effectively alleviate the ARILI in mice by its antioxidant properties and the effects of downregulating the expressions of inflammatory factors, and RES-related lung-toxicity is not obvious. RES may become a clinically effective and safe radioprotector for ARILI. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2011.05.003