title: Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on fish hepatoma cells treated with mercury chloride and ionizing radiation.
abstract: Organisms are exposed to natural radiations from cosmic or terrestrial origins. Furthermore the combined action of radiation with various chemicals is an inevitable feature of modern life. Radiation is known to cause cell death, mainly due to its ability to produce reactive oxygen species in cells. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is a well-known sulfhydryl-containing antioxidant whose role in radioprotection has been reported. Synergistic effects of radiation and mercury chloride on human cells was previously reported by the authors. Based on the previous report, this study was designed to assess the synergistic effects of radiation and mercury chloride on fish hepatoma cells, as well as to investigate the protective effects of NAC on the cells. The cytotoxicity of radiation was enhanced in the presence of mercury chloride. NAC in lower concentrations prevented cells from death after irradiation with lower doses (<300 Gy) while it did not prevent cells from radiation-induced death after irradiation with higher doses (300, 500 Gy). The intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels significantly decreased after irradiation while the combined treatment of NAC and radiation alleviated the decrease in the GSH levels. The investigations give a clue for the action mechanism of synergistic or protective effects of NAC on the cells. Due to their high resistance to ionizing radiation, the PLHC-1 cells can be effectively used as a screening tool for assessing the combined effects of radiation with toxic chemicals.
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Jeongeup 580-185, Republic of Korea. jkkim@kaeri.re.kr
authors.forename: Jin Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nili
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005399:Fishes; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine