Placental extract protects bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells against radiation injury through anti-inflammatory activity

J Radiat Res. 2013 Mar 1;54(2):268-76. doi: 10.1093/jrr/rrs105. Epub 2012 Nov 14.

Abstract

Placental extracts have been reported to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Because there is increasing evidence that ionizing radiation induces the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines, we examined the protective effects of a placental extract against radiation injury. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 1 Gy of γ-ray radiation every day for 5 days, and placental extract (1 mg/day) was administrated orally soon after each exposure. At 2 days after the last irradiation, mice were euthanized to examine the numbers, colony-forming capacity, and DNA damage of stem/progenitor cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. To understand the related mechanisms, we also measured the levels of intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, and 8-OHdG in the plasma and urine, and IL-6 and TNF-α in the plasma. Compared with the placebo treatment, oral administration of placental extract significantly increased the number and colony-forming capacity, but decreased the DNA damage of bone marrow stem/progenitor cells. However, neither the levels of intracellular and mitochondrial ROS in bone marrow cells, nor the levels of 8-OHdG in the urine and plasma significantly differed between groups. Interestingly, in comparison with the placebo treatment, placental extract significantly decreased the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in the plasma. Placental extract significantly attenuated the acute radiation injury to bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells, and this protection is likely to be related to the anti-inflammatory activity of the placental extract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / pathology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / radiation effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Placental Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Radiation Injuries / metabolism*
  • Radiation Injuries / pathology
  • Radiation Injuries / prevention & control*
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Placental Extracts
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species