Protection to immune system of mice by N-acetyl tryptophan glucoside (NATG) against gamma radiation induced immune suppression

• Published in: Molecular immunology Vol. 114; pp. 578 - 590
• Main Authors: Malhotra, Poonam, Gupta, Ashutosh K, Singh, Darshana, Mishra, Saurabh, Singh, Shravan K, Kumar, Raj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bacterial secondary metabolite; Cell cycle analysis; Cytokines - metabolism; Gamma Rays - adverse effects; Haematological studies; Haematopoiesis; Immunosuppression; Immunosuppression - adverse effects; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-13 - metabolism; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; Male; Mice; Protective Agents - pharmacology; Radioprotection; Tryptophan - analogs & derivatives; Tryptophan - pharmacology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Haematological studies; Bacterial secondary metabolite; Immunosuppression; Cell cycle analysis; Radioprotection; Haematopoiesis
• ISSN: 0161-5890; 1872-9142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.09.003

•NATG pretreatment elevates Th1 cytokine immune response against radiation exposure.•NATG pretreatment declines 9 Gy radiation induced Th2 cytokines in bone marrow cells.•NATG pretreatment to radiation exposed mice restores their hematological parameters.•NATG does not interfere with cell cycle progression in pretreated irradiated mice. Immune system is a critical modulator of radiation-induced biological effects. In this study, we have assessed protective potential of N-acetyl tryptophan glucoside (NATG) pre-treatment in bone marrow of gamma radiation challenged mice. Isolated bone marrow cells were analysed for cell cycle progression by flow cytometry, while various pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles were performed by ELISA method. Overall radioprotective ability of NATG in ensuring protection against gamma radiation-induced damage was assessed by evaluating whole body survival analysis and haematological studies on 9 Gy irradiated mice with/without NATG pre-treatment. Results exhibited pre-treatment with 150 mg/kg b.wt oral administration of NATG as most effective against 9 Gy radiation exposure. Moreover, NATG showed non-interfering effect on cell cycle progression in pre-treated irradiated mice group when compared to radiation alone group. In addition, cytokine expression analysis indicated significant (p > 0.05) elevation in levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, IL-13 and IL-17 in NATG pre-treated irradiated mice in comparison to radiation alone group. On the contrary, NATG pre-treatment was observed to alleviate levels of TNF-α and IL-10 significantly (p < 0.05) in radiated group as compared to only irradiated mice group. Furthermore, NATG pre-treatment to 9 Gy radiation exposed mice aided in restoring their haematological parameters in terms of haemoglobin counts, RBC counts, WBC counts, hematocrit levels, platelets and granulocyte levels in comparison to irradiated alone mice, thus enhancing their immune system and contributing towards a better survival against gamma radiation-induced deleterious effects. Conclusively, this study highlights the potential of NATG as a prospective radiation countermeasure agent against ionizing radiation-induced assaults to the immune system.