title: Preliminary study of protective effects of flavonoids against radiation-induced lung injury in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation therapy plays an important role in lung carcinoma treatment. However, the incidence of symptomatic radiation-induced lung injury is high. This study aimed to evaluate radioprotective effects of flavonoids extracted from Astragalus complanatus and mechanisms of action against radiation damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Alteration in antioxidant status and levles of several cytokines were investigated in BABL/C mice treated with 4 mg/kg b.wt. flavonoids after exposure to 10Gy thoracic radiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of SOD in the flavonoids+radiation group were significantly higher compared to the radiation control group, while TGF-β1 and IL-6 were lower. Mice in the radiation control group displayed more severe lung damage compared with the flavonoids+radiation group. The expression of TGF-β1 and TNF-α in the radiation control group was markedly increased in alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages of the alveolar septum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the results of the present study, flavonoids could be excellent candidates as protective agents against radiation-induced lung injury.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Heng-Wei
authors: HW
authors: Xu
authors: Bao-Sheng
authors: BS
authors: Li
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase