Influence of Guiqiyiyuan Ointment on the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in rat lung tissues injured by heavy ion radiation-induced bystander effect / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the influence of Guiqiyiyuan Ointment on the expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the lung and kidney of the rats damaged by heavy ion (12C6+) radiation-induced bystander effect.Methods The Wistar male rats were equally and randomly divided into seven groups,normal control group (NCG),radiation alone group (RAG) and Chinese medicine group (CMG),with the latter two groups being redivided into 6,12 and 24h groups according to the executing time.The Chinese medicine groups were given Guiqiyiyuan Ointment by gavage for two weeks in advance.The normal control group and the radiation alone groups were given the equal normal saline.Afterwards,the right lung of the rats in the radiation alone groups and Chinese medicine groups were radiated by 2Gy 12C6+ ion once.The rats in normal control group were not radiated.All groups of rats were executed 6,12,and 24h after radiation.The protein and mRNA expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the right lung,left lung and left kidney were examined with immunohistochemistry and Q-PCR.Results Compared with the normal control group,the mRNA expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the right lung,left lung and left kidney in the radiation alone groups obviously increased 6 and 24h after radiation.While the protein expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the radiation alone group obviously increased only 24h after radiation (P＜0.01).Compared with the radiation alone groups,the expressions of protein and mRNA ofcaspase-3 and caspase-9 were obviously down-regulated in the Chinese medicine groups (P＜0.01).Conclusion By controlling the up-regulation of the expression ofcaspase-3 and caspase-9,Guiqiyiyuan Ointment can prevent the lung and kidney cell apoptosis and alleviate the damage caused by heavy ion radiation-induced bystander effect in vivo.