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Usefulness of dietary flaxseed in abrogating lung damage associated with space exploration: antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects of flaxseed in a murine model of repeated double‐hit low‐level radiation and hyperoxia exposure
Author(s) -
Pietrofesa Ralph A,
Dukes Floyd,
Tyagi Sonia,
Arguiri Evguenia,
Solomides Charalambos C,
Christofidou-Solomidou Melpo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.823.41
Subject(s) - hyperoxia , lung , inflammation , medicine , bronchoalveolar lavage , oxidative stress , hydroxyproline , fibrosis , low earth orbit , pathology , immunology , andrology , chemistry , physics , satellite , astronomy
Crew members during spaceflight missions must conduct extra‐vehicular activities (EVA) which may expose them to lung damaging hyperoxia and low levels cosmic/galactic radiation. Flaxseed (FS) has lung protective properties in mouse models of acute and chronic lung injury. To test the usefulness of FS as a dietary supplement for such missions, we evaluated FS in a murine model of double‐hit hyperoxia and radiation. Mouse cohorts (n=5/group) were pre‐fed diets containing either 0% FS or 10% FS for 3 wks and exposed to: a) normoxia; b) >95% O 2 (O 2 ); c) 0.25Gy gamma radiation (RAD); or d) a combination of O 2 and RAD (O 2 +RAD). Challenge (O 2 or RAD) was given 3X weekly for 2 wks; 8‐hour hyperoxia was spanned by normoxic intervals. Lungs were evaluated for oxidative damage, inflammation, injury and fibrosis. 0% FS‐fed mice developed significant lung injury and inflammation across all challenges, as evidenced by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils (p<0.003), BAL protein levels and increased oxidative tissue damage (p<0.008). Lung hydroxyproline content increased in 0% FS‐fed mice exposed to RAD and O 2 +RAD (p<0.001). All adverse effects due to challenge conditions were ameliorated in FS‐fed mice. In conclusion, dietary FS is protective in a murine model of repeated low‐level radiation and hyperoxia exposure. Funded by: NIH/NCI, NASA (MCS)Grant Funding Source : NIH/NCI/NASA