Ferulic acid protects lymphocytes from radiation-predisposed oxidative stress through extracellular regulated kinase.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of ferulic acid (FA) on irradiated lymphocytes and discover the possible mechanisms of protection.


METHODS
Lymphocytes were pretreated for 12 h with FA (0.001-0.1 μM) and then exposed to 3 Gy radiation. Cell apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and signal pathway was analysed.


RESULTS
Irradiation increased cell death, DNA fragmentation and intracellular ROS. Pretreatment with FA significantly reversed this tendency and attenuated the irradiation-induced ROS generation. Furthermore, several anti-apoptotic characteristics of FA were determined, including the ability to diminish cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration, inhibit caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c translocation, upregulate B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and downregulate Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in 3 Gy-irradiated lymphocytes. Signal pathway analysis showed FA decreased the activation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), which had been activated by radiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that FA had a radioprotective effect through the ERK pathway to inhibit apoptosis and oxidation, and it may be an effective candidate for treating radiation diseases associated with oxidative stress.
Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, PR China.
Zeng-Chun
ZC
Ma
Qian
Q
Hong
Yu-Guang
YG
Wang
Hong-Ling
HL
Tan
Cheng-Rong
CR
Xiao
Qian-De
QD
Liang
Dong-Gen
DG
Wang
Yue
Y
Gao
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; C004999:ferulic acid; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases