title: Antioxidants reduce consequences of radiation exposure.
abstract: Antioxidants have been studied for their capacity to reduce the cytotoxic effects of radiation in normal tissues for at least 50 years. Early research identified sulfur-containing antioxidants as those with the most beneficial therapeutic ratio, even though these compounds have substantial toxicity when given in-vivo. Other antioxidant molecules (small molecules and enzymatic) have been studied for their capacity to prevent radiation toxicity both with regard to reduction of radiation-related cytotoxicity and for reduction of indirect radiation effects including long-term oxidative damage. Finally, categories of radiation protectors that are not primarily antioxidants, including those that act through acceleration of cell proliferation (e.g. growth factors), prevention of apoptosis, other cellular signaling effects (e.g. cytokine signal modifiers), or augmentation of DNA repair, all have direct or indirect effects on cellular redox state and levels of endogenous antioxidants. In this review we discuss what is known about the radioprotective properties of antioxidants, and what those properties tell us about the DNA and other cellular targets of radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Okunieff
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swarts
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keng
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shanmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hengshan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chaomei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jacqueline P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Huser
authors.forename: Lurong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents