Hydrogen therapy may be an effective and specific novel treatment for acute radiation syndrome
Introduction
Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element, constituting approximately 75% of the universe’s elemental mass. It is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas which is mainly used in fossil fuel processing and ammonia production. Hydrogen is seldom regarded as important agent in medical usage, especially as a therapeutic gas.
However, a recent study provided evidence that inhaled hydrogen gas (H2) has antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties that protect the brain against ischemia–reperfusion injury and stroke by selectively reducing OH and ONOO− in cell-free systems [1]. This study indicates a unique function of H2 as a therapeutic gas by specifically targeting the reactive oxygen species (ROS) system.
Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that a burst of reactive oxygen species results in a restoration of blood flow after a stroke. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as the hydroxyl radical (OH), superoxide anion (O2−), hydrogen dioxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO−), also appear to play a critical role in cell damage of stroke, myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury, transplantation injury and other injuries. There are now highly successful approaches for both stroke and myocardial infarction to restore blood flow to the ischemic tissue. However, we have failed to completely relieve this pathological cascade of oxidative damage after reperfusion injury [2]. The study by Ohsawa et al., is very important in showing of relieving the oxidative damage.
The idea that H2 is a therapeutic gas has also been proved by other groups in other models. The effect of hydrogen gas as a therapeutic gas has been extensively studied and researchers now find that hydrogen gas can also be effective for myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury and transplantation injuries of other types [3], [4], [5]. However, the potential effect of hydrogen gas on another damage type which free radials play an important role is largely ignored. That type is the acute radiation syndrome (ARS).
Section snippets
Acute radiation syndrome (ARS)
Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) is the damage caused to organ tissue due to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation in a short period, though this also has occurred with long term exposure [6]. ARS, acute radiation syndrome involves partial or full destruction of the hematopoietic system (HP) and gastrointestinal tract (GI) which are often very serious and even cause death [7]. Examples of persons who suffered from acute radiation syndrome (ARS) are the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Hypothesis
Our hypothesis is that hydrogen gas may be a promising, effective and specific radioprotective agent. Our theory is unique because it proposes a medical use for hydrogen gas and goes beyond the view that hydrogen gas can only be used for energy production.
Our hypothesis is based on the theory that molecular hydrogen can selectively reduce hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite in vitro and in vivo [1]. As hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite are much more reactive than other ROS, it stands to reason
Conflict of interest statement
None declared.
Acknowledgments
We thank Trip Barthel, M.A. and Dr. Cindy Savage for critically reading of the manuscript. Special thanks to Dr. Xuetao Cao from the National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Dr. Xuejun Sun from the Department of Diving Medicine of our university for providing so many helps.
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