title: Amifostine protects blood vessels from the effects of ionizing radiation.
abstract: Amifostine (WR-2721) is a well-known radioprotective drug, selective for normal cells. The purpose of the present study was to define whether amifostine protects the vascular network from the effects of X-rays. We used the in vivo system of chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a model of angiogenesis. Amifostine reversed the early X-rays- induced decrease in the number of CAM blood vessels and reversed the early radiation-induced apoptosis of CAM cells. It also inhibited the increase in tyrosine nitration of actin and a-tubulin, which was observed 6 hours after CAM irradiation, when there was a significant decrease in non-protein SH groups. Furthermore, C6 rat glioma cells were inoculated on CAM and tumor growth, as well as tumor-induced angiogenesis, was estimated on haematoxylin-eosin-stained paraffin sections. Amifostine inhibited the post irradiation increase of C6 tumor-induced angiogenesis. These data suggest that amifostine protects CAM cells and blood vessels from the effects of X-rays, through mechanisms that do not depend solely on its free radical scavenging properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, GR 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstathia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giannopoulou
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katsoris
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parthymou
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kardamakis
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000482:Allantois / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D004999:Amifostine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002823:Chorion / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D005910:Glioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014404:Tubulin; D014443:Tyrosine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D004999:Amifostine