Effects of Thymoquinone on radiation enteritis in mice

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 11;8(1):15122. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-33214-3.

Abstract

Radiation enteritis is an old but emerging question induced by the application of radiation. However, no effective drugs for radiation enteritis in clinic. In this study, we found that thymoquinone (TQ) could mitigate intestinal damages induced by irradiation. After exposure to irradiation, TQ-treated improved the irradiated mice survival rate, ameliorated intestinal injury and increased the numbers of intestinal crypts. Furthermore, Lgr5+ ISCs and their daughter cells, including Vil1+ enterocytes, Ki67+ cells and lysozyme+ Paneth cells, were all significantly increased with TQ treatment. In addition, P53, γH2AX, caspase8, caspase9 and caspase3 expression were all reduced by TQ. Our data showed that TQ modulated DNA damages and decreased the apoptosis in the small intestine. TQ might be used for radiation enteritis treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Benzoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enteritis / drug therapy
  • Enteritis / etiology*
  • Enteritis / mortality
  • Enteritis / pathology*
  • Enterocytes / drug effects
  • Enterocytes / metabolism
  • Enterocytes / pathology
  • Enterocytes / radiation effects
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / radiation effects
  • Intestine, Small
  • Mice
  • Radiation Injuries / drug therapy
  • Radiation Injuries / mortality
  • Radiation Injuries / pathology*
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Benzoquinones
  • Biomarkers
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • thymoquinone