Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Exert a Radioprotective Effect on the Testes and Intestines Through Antioxidant Effects and Inhibition of MAPK Signal Pathways

Hui Shen; Jun Han; Chunlei Liu; Fei Cao; Yijuan Huang

doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.836528

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Exert a Radioprotective Effect on the Testes and Intestines Through Antioxidant Effects and Inhibition of MAPK Signal Pathways

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jan 24:8:836528. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.836528. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Hui Shen¹, Jun Han², Chunlei Liu³, Fei Cao⁴, Yijuan Huang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Central Laboratory, First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China.
² Department of Radiology, First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China.
³ Department of Radiation Oncology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng Clinical Medical School of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China.
⁴ Department of Radiotherapy, Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

The testes and intestines are highly sensitive to ionizing radiation. Low-dose radiation can cause infertility and enteritis. However, there is a lack of safe and efficient radioprotective agents. This study aims to investigate the radioprotective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) on testicular and intestinal damage induced by ionizing radiation. In vitro, GSPs reduced the apoptosis and proliferation inhibition of mouse testicular stromal cells TM3 and human small intestinal crypt epithelial cells HIEC induced by ionizing radiation, and alleviated DNA double-strand breaks. In vivo, GSPs ameliorated the pathological damage of the testes and intestines induced by ionizing radiation, and protected the endocrine function of the testes and the barrier function of the intestines. In addition, we preliminarily proved that the radioprotective effect of GSPs is related to its antioxidant effect and inhibition of MAPK signaling pathways. Our results indicate that GSPs are expected to be a safe and effective radioprotective drug.

Keywords: MAPK; intestine; proanthocyanidins; radioprotection; testis.