Hydrogen Water Protects Immune System from Radiation Damage in Mice
- Authors
- Sanhu Zhao, Yanyong Yang, Wen Liu, Zhiqiang Xuan, Shouming Wu, Shunfei Yu, Ke Mei, Yijuan Huang, Pei Zhang, Jianming Cai, Jin Ni, Yaoxian Zhao
- Journal
- Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
- Year
- 2014
- DOI
- 10.1111/jcmm.12245
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Radiation Exposure
- Body System
- Immune System
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas can protect the immune system of mice from damage caused by radiation exposure.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced radiation damage to the spleen and immune system in mice by decreasing harmful free radicals and preventing immune cell death.
Summary
Researchers gave mice hydrogen-rich saline before exposing them to radiation to see if it could protect their immune systems. The treatment reduced harmful molecules called free radicals, prevented immune cell death, and helped restore balance to important immune cells called T cells, suggesting hydrogen may help counteract radiation damage to the immune system.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted only in mice, so it cannot yet be applied to human health. While the results suggest hydrogen may have radioprotective properties, human studies would be needed to determine if hydrogen water could offer similar benefits for people exposed to radiation.
Abstract
AbstractRecent studies showed that hydrogen can be used as an effective radioprotective agent through scavenging free radicals. This study was undertaken to evaluate the radioprotective effects of hydrogen on immune system in mice. H2 was dissolved in physiological saline using an apparatus produced by our department. Spleen index and histological analysis were used to evaluate the splenic structural damage. Spleen superoxide dismutase, GSH, MDA were measured to appraise the antioxidant capacity and a DCF assay for the measurement of radical oxygen species. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by an Annexin V‐FITC and propidium iodide staining method as well as the apoptotic proteins such as Bcl‐2, Bax, caspase‐3 and c‐caspase‐3. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells subtypes were detected by flow cytometry with FITC‐labelled antimouse CD4 and PE antimouse CD8 staining. Real‐time PCR was utilized to determine the CD4+ T cell subtypes and related cytokines. Our study demonstrated that pre‐treatment with H2 could increase the spleen index and attenuate the radiation damage on splenic structure. Radical oxygen species level was also reduced by H2 treatment. H2 also inhibited radiation‐induced apoptosis in splenocytes and down‐regulated pro‐apoptotic proteins in living mice. Radiation‐induced imbalance of T cells was attenuated by H2. Finally, we found that H2 could regulate the polarization of CD4+ T cells and the level of related cytokines. This study suggests H2 as an effective radioprotective agent on immune system by scavenging reactive oxygen species.