6,7,3′,4′-Tetrahydroxyisoflavone improves the survival of whole-body-irradiated mice via restoration of hematopoietic function

Abstract

Purpose: 6,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyisoflavone (T3) is a novel chemically synthesized compound reported in our previous study. This study was designed to explore the radioprotective effect of T3, and if so, its potential mechanisms.

Materials and methods: KunMing mice were exposed to various doses of γ irradiation (60 Co) after being treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or T3. Briefly, survival rate, dose reducing factor (DRF), body weight change (%), spleen index (SI) and thymus index (TI) of irradiated mice with or without different doses of T3 treatment were evaluated routinely. The hematopoietic function of bone marrow was emphatically investigated. In vitro experiments were performed to observe the protective effect of T3 on irradiated human lymphocyte AHH-1 cells by cell viability or flow cytometry (FCM) assays.

Results: A single dose of subcutaneous administration of T3 significantly improved the survival rate, and enhanced the restoration of hematopoietic function in irradiated mice. T3 also decreased the apoptosis of irradiated AHH-1 cells in vitro.

Conclusions: T3 protected mice against lethal γ irradiation-induced injury probably through the restoration of hematopoietic function. This implied that T3 could be further developed as a radioprotector.

Keywords:

• Whole-body irradiation
• T3
• AHH-1
• hematopoietic protection
• apoptosis

Acknowledgements

We are especially grateful to Dr Qing Zhou for his helpful guidance in preparation and analysis of bone marrow sections.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Cong Liu, Yuhui Hao and Hong Li are all PhD of military preventive medicine. Jing Liu is an MPH, and Zhangyou Yang is a Master, both major in material chemistry. Ying Gu is a bachelor in biochemistry. Rong Li is a PhD and full professor of military preventive medicine, also the major conductor of this study. All the authors are working in the field of radiation biology, and from College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81172601 and No. 81472913), and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Combined Injury, China (No. SKLZZ201503).