Molecular Hydrogen as a Potential Clinically Applicable Radioprotective Agent

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 9; p. 4566
• Main Authors: Hirano, Shin-Ichi, Ichikawa, Yusuke, Sato, Bunpei, Yamamoto, Haru, Takefuji, Yoshiyasu, Satoh, Fumitake
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.04.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Animal cognition; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Cancer therapies; Cell division; Chemical reactions; Clinical trials; Cognitive ability; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA damage; Dosage; Drug dosages; Free radicals; Gene expression; Hydroxyl radicals; Immune system; Inflammation; intracellular response; Ionizing radiation; Lipids; medical application; molecular hydrogen; non-DNA target; Oxidation; Permeability; Proteins; Radiation damage; Radiation dosage; Radiation effects; Radiation therapy; radiation-induced damage; Radiolysis; radioprotective agent; Radioprotective agents; Review; radioprotective agent; inflammation; radiation-induced damage; oxidation; apoptosis; non-DNA target; medical application; intracellular response; molecular hydrogen; gene expression
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094566

Although ionizing radiation (radiation) is commonly used for medical diagnosis and cancer treatment, radiation-induced damages cannot be avoided. Such damages can be classified into direct and indirect damages, caused by the direct absorption of radiation energy into DNA and by free radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), generated in the process of water radiolysis. More specifically, radiation damage concerns not only direct damages to DNA, but also secondary damages to non-DNA targets, because low-dose radiation damage is mainly caused by these indirect effects. Molecular hydrogen (H ) has the potential to be a radioprotective agent because it can selectively scavenge •OH, a reactive oxygen species with strong oxidizing power. Animal experiments and clinical trials have reported that H exhibits a highly safe radioprotective effect. This paper reviews previously reported radioprotective effects of H and discusses the mechanisms of H , not only as an antioxidant, but also in intracellular responses including anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and the regulation of gene expression. In doing so, we demonstrate the prospects of H as a novel and clinically applicable radioprotective agent.