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Oxygen Transport to Tissue XXIX pp 165–178Cite as

Antioxidants Reduce Consequences of Radiation Exposure

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Part of the book series: Advances In Experimental Medicine And Biology ((AEMB,volume 614))

Abstract

Antioxidants have been studied for their capacity to reduce the cytotoxic effects of radiation in normal tissues for at least 50 years. Early research identified sulfur-containing antioxidants as those with the most beneficial therapeutic ratio, even though these compounds have substantial toxicity when given in-vivo. Other antioxidant molecules (small molecules and enzymatic) have been studied for their capacity to prevent radiation toxicity both with regard to reduction of radiation-related cytotoxicity and for reduction of indirect radiation effects including long-term oxidative damage. Finally, categories of radiation protectors that are not primarily antioxidants, including those that act through acceleration of cell proliferation (e.g. growth factors), prevention of apoptosis, other cellular signaling effects (e.g. cytokine signal modifiers), or augmentation of DNA repair, all have direct or indirect effects on cellular redox state and levels of endogenous antioxidants. In this review we discuss what is known about the radioprotective properties of antioxidants, and what those properties tell us about the DNA and other cellular targets of radiation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642

    Paul Okunieff, Steven Swarts, Peter Keng, Weimin Sun, Wei Wang, Jung Kim, Shanmin Yang, Hengshan Zhang, Chaomei Liu, Jacqueline P. Williams, Amy K. Huser & Lurong Zhang

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA

    Kyung A. Kang

  2. Durham Unit Regional Medical Physics Department, University Hospital of North Durham, Durham, UK

    David K. Harrison

  3. Synthesizer Inc, Ellicott City, MD, USA

    Duane F. Bruley

  4. UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Duane F. Bruley

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Okunieff, P. et al. (2008). Antioxidants Reduce Consequences of Radiation Exposure. In: Kang, K.A., Harrison, D.K., Bruley, D.F. (eds) Oxygen Transport to Tissue XXIX. Advances In Experimental Medicine And Biology, vol 614. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-74911-2_20

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