Elsevier

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 74, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 145-146
Medical Hypotheses

Hydrogen therapy may be an effective and specific novel treatment for acute radiation syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.07.017Get rights and content

Summary

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe, however, it is seldom regarded as a therapeutic gas. Recent studies show that inhaled hydrogen gas (H2) has antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities that protect the brain against ischemia–reperfusion injury and stroke by selectively reducing hydroxyl and peroxynitrite radicals. It is also well known that more than a half of the ionizing radiation-induced cellular damage is caused by hydroxyl radicals. Studies have show that reducing hydroxyl radicals can significantly improve the protection of cells from radiation damage. In like manner, we hypothesize that hydrogen therapy may be an effective, specific and unique 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 radical dotOH 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 (radical dotOH), 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.

References (17)

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