Victims of nuclear incidents such as nuclear bomb blasts or terrorist attack face a number of morbidity and mortality issues. Gastrointestinal injury is a primary cause of acute death. Our preliminary results indicate that oxidative stress following localized abdominal irradiation (AI) plays a central role in radiation damage, and that antioxidants are effective in protecting and rescuing mice from AI-induced acute death. Since treatment of the irradiated mice with the antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), prevented/reversed abscopal suppression of the unirradiated bone marrow stromal cells by AI, we hypothesize that bone marrow preservation/repopulation by NAC is instrumental to the rescue efficacy of NAC. The primary goal of this research is to elucidate the role of bone marrow protection by NAC in a post-radiation rescue of mice exposed to localized abdominal irradiation. The secondary goal is to evaluate the impact of bone marrow protection by NAC on tissue repair following abdominal irradiation. The ultimate goal is to use antioxidant-based mitigation as alternatives to bone marrow transplantation in a post-radiation rescue setting, where bone marrow transplantation is unfeasible.

Public Health Relevance

The primary goal of this research is to elucidate the role of bone marrow protection by the antioxidant, NAC, in a post-radiation rescue of mice exposed to localized abdominal irradiation. The secondary goal is to evaluate the impact of bone marrow protection by NAC on tissue repair following abdominal irradiation. The ultimate goal is to use antioxidant-based mitigation as alternatives to bone marrow transplantation in a post-radiation rescue setting.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AI085438-01
Application #
7773917
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-OTC-N (02))
Program Officer
Dicarlo-Cohen, Andrea L
Project Start
2010-07-01
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$217,500
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
122452563
City
Little Rock
State
AR
Country
United States
Zip Code
72205
Jia, Dan; Gaddy, Dana; Suva, Larry J et al. (2011) Rapid loss of bone mass and strength in mice after abdominal irradiation. Radiat Res 176:624-35