Reduction of Radiation-induced Chromosome Aberration and Apoptosis by Dithiothreitol

We have examined in vitro and in vivo radioprotective effects of a well-known thiol-containing compound, dithiothreitol (DTT). The treatment of both 0.5 and 1mM of DTT significantly increased clonogenic survival of ${\gamma}$-ray irradiated Chinese hamster (V79-4) cells. In order to investigate the possible radioprotective mechanism of DTT, we measured gamma-ray induced chromosome aberration by micronucleus assay. In the presence of 0.5mM or 1mM DTT, the frequencies of micronuclei were greatly reduced in all dose range examined (1.5-8 GY). Slightly higher reduction in micronucleus formation was observed in 1mM DTT-treated cells than in 0.5mM DTT-treated cells. In addition, incubation with both 0.5 and 1mM of DTT prior to gamma-ray irradiation reduced nucleosomal DNA fragmentation at about same extent, this result suggests that treatment of DTT at concentrations of 0.5 and 1mM reduced radiation-induced apoptosis. In vivo experiments, we also observed that DTT treatment reduced the incidence of apoptotic cells in mouse small intestine crypts. In irradiated control group 4.4${\pm}$0.5 apoptotic cells per crypt were observed. In DTT-administered and irradiated mice, only 2.1${\pm}$0.4 apoptotic cells per crypt was observed. In vitro and in vivo data obtained in this study showed that DTT reduced radiation-induced damages and it seems that the possible radioprotective mechanisms of action of DTT are prevention of chromosome aberration.