title: Tetrahydropalmatine attenuates irradiation induced lung injuries in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The lung is a major organ targeted by irradiation (R) in cancer radiotherapy of the thoracic region. Irradiation induced lung injury (RILI) is a common major obstacle in thoracic cancer radiotherapy. Tetrahydropalmatine (THP) has been shown to have a protective effect against oxidative stress. This study was designed to investigate the potential radioprotective effect of THP against RILI and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with THP and R. THP was delivered 1h before R. Using TUNEL staining to explore the effectiveness of THP displayed on R induced pulmonary cells apoptosis. Lung histopathologic findings, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of total cell counts, protein and inflammatory cytokines, fibrotic factors (hydroxyproline content), apoptotic mediators (caspase-3 and cytochrome c) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also evaluated after R.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THP significantly ameliorates the deleterious effects of R. Further studies showed that THP decreased lung injury by inhibiting the pulmonary cells apoptosis; reduced lung inflammation by decreasing BALF cells recruitment and lowering BALF protein levels; reduced pulmonary fibrosis by decreasing collagen content of lung tissues. THP also ameliorated oxidative modification of rat lungs as evidenced by levels of lipid peroxidation. BALF cytokine analysis, moreover, pointed to a mitigation of the chronic inflammatory profile of irradiated lungs as a result of the protective effect of THP treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  THP can effectively attenuate RILI through anti-apoptosis, anti-fibrosis and anti-inflammation mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong An Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong An Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Juanjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong An Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong An Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Guang An Men Hospital of Chinese Medical Science Research Institute, No. 5 Beixiange Road, Xicheng District, 100053, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong An Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China. Electronic address: oncologychina@163.com.
authors.forename: Bangwei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; C014215:tetrahydropalmatine; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Fibrosis; Irradiation; Lung injury; Tetrahydropalmatine