Hydrogen Water Protects Immune Cells from Radiation Damage
- Authors
- Yanyong Yang, Bailong Li, Cong Liu, Yunhai Chuai, Jixiao Lei, Fu Gao, Jianguo Cui, Ding Sun, Ying Cheng, Chuanfeng Zhou, Jianming Cai
- Journal
- Medical Science Monitor
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.12659/msm.882616
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Radiation-Induced Immunosuppression
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas (H2) treatment can reduce the damage to immune cells and prevent blood cell loss caused by radiation exposure.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced radiation-induced death of immune cells and prevented the depletion of white blood cells and platelets in mice exposed to ionizing radiation.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could protect immune cells from damage caused by radiation exposure. Researchers treated mice with hydrogen-rich saline before exposing them to ionizing radiation and found that the hydrogen treatment reduced cell death in immune cells, lowered harmful molecules called hydroxyl radicals, and prevented the radiation-induced drop in white blood cells and platelets in the blood.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen may help protect immune cells from radiation damage. However, these results are from mice only and have not been tested in humans, so it's unclear whether hydrogen water would have similar protective effects in people exposed to radiation.
Abstract
Background: Radiation often causes depletion of immunocytes in tissues and blood, which results in immunosuppression. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been shown in recent studies to have potential as a safe and effective radioprotective agent through scavenging free radicals. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that H2 could protect immunocytes from ionizing radiation (IR). Material/methods: H2 was dissolved in physiological saline or medium using an apparatus produced by our department. A 2-[6-(4'-hydroxy) phenoxy-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl] benzoate (HPF) probe was used to detect intracellular hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Cell apoptosis was evaluated by annexin V-FITC and Propidium iodide (PI) staining as well as the caspase 3 activity. Finally, we examined the hematological changes using an automatic Sysmex XE 2100 hematology analyzer. Results: We demonstrated H2-rich medium pretreatment reduced •OH level in AHH-1 cells. We also showed H2 reduced radiation-induced apoptosis in thymocytes and splenocytes in living mice. Radiation-induced caspase 3 activation was also attenuated by H2 treatment. Finally, we found that H2 rescued the radiation-caused depletion of white blood cells (WBC) and platelets (PLT). Conclusions: This study suggests that H2 protected the immune system and alleviated the hematological injury induced by IR.