Delayed Captopril Administration Mitigates Hematopoietic Injury in a Murine Model of Total Body Irradiation

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 18;9(1):2198. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38651-2.

Abstract

The increasing potential for accidental radiation exposure from either nuclear accidents or terrorist activities has escalated the need for radiation countermeasure development. We previously showed that a 30-day course of high-dose captopril, an ACE inhibitor, initiated 1-4 h after total body irradiation (TBI), improved Hematopoietic Acute Radiation Syndrome (H-ARS) and increased survival in mice. However, because of the time likely required for the deployment of a stockpiled radiation countermeasure to a radiation mass casualty site, there is a need for therapies that can be administered 24-48 hours after initial exposure. Using C57BL/6 mice exposed to an LD50-80/30 of 60Co TBI (7.75-7.9 Gy, 0.615 Gy/min), we show that low-dose captopril administration, initiated as late as 48 h post-TBI and continued for 14 days, significantly enhanced overall survival similarly to high-dose, rapid administration. Captopril treatment did not affect radiation-induced cell cycle arrest genes or the immediate loss of hematopoietic precursors. Reduced mortality was associated with the recovery of bone marrow cellularity and mature blood cell recovery at 21-30 days post-irradiation. Captopril reduced radiation-induced cytokines EPO, G-CSF, and SAA in the plasma. Finally, delayed captopril administration mitigated brain micro-hemorrhage at 21 days post-irradiation. These data indicate that low dose captopril administered as late as 48 h post-TBI for only two weeks improves survival that is associated with hematopoietic recovery and reduced inflammatory response. These data suggest that captopril may be an ideal countermeasure to mitigate H-ARS following accidental radiation exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Radiation Syndrome / blood
  • Acute Radiation Syndrome / etiology
  • Acute Radiation Syndrome / mortality
  • Acute Radiation Syndrome / prevention & control
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Captopril / administration & dosage*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / radiation effects
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / radiation effects
  • Hematopoiesis / drug effects*
  • Hematopoiesis / radiation effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / radiation effects
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Exposure
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Time-to-Treatment
  • Whole-Body Irradiation* / adverse effects

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Captopril