Effective oral countermeasures against ionizing radiation-induced damage without hindering cancer radiotherapy - 23/04/26
, Elena Obrador a, b, ⁎ 
Abstract |
High-dose ionizing radiation induces severe multi-organ injury, yet no broadly effective, orally available countermeasure has been validated. Here we describe a fully oral, multi-component formulation comprising bioavailable polyphenol derivatives (pterostilbene cocrystals and silybin-phosphatidylcholine), the NAD⁺ precursor nicotinamide riboside, and captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with established radiomitigative activity that synergizes with the polyphenols. This combination provides robust systemic radioprotection, enabling long-term survival in 90% of mice exposed to a lethal (LD50/30) dose of X-rays. Mechanistically, the formulation mitigates hematopoietic, intestinal, and neuromotor injury while enhancing DNA repair, suppressing oxidative stress, preserving NAD⁺ homeostasis, and activating autophagy. In intestinal epithelial cells, it markedly reduces radiation-induced apoptosis, inflammatory signaling, and mitochondrial dysfunction through coordinated modulation of Nrf2, NF-κB, and sirtuin-regulated stress responses. Critically, normal tissue protection does not compromise tumor control. In triple-negative breast cancer models, irradiation-induced tumor regression is preserved, whereas in glioblastoma (a typically radioresistant malignancy) tumor radiosensitivity is significantly enhanced via sustained oxidative stress, reduced PARP1 expression, and inhibition of HIF-1α and VEGF signaling. Collectively, these findings define an orally deployable, mechanistically integrated strategy that protects normal tissues while preserving or augmenting tumor radiosensitivity, supporting its translational potential as a practical and effective countermeasure against ionizing radiation exposure.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Graphical Abstract |
Highlights |
• | Fully oral combo protects against lethal ionizing radiation. |
• | The formulation increases long-term survival (90%, one year post-exposure). |
• | Acts via redox control, DNA repair, anti-inflammation and autophagy. |
• | Preserves radiotherapy efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer in vivo . |
• | Sensitizes glioblastoma to radiation in vivo . |
Keywords : Radioprotection, Radiomitigation, Ionizing radiations, Formulated polyphenols, NAD + precursors , Captopril
Plan
Vol 198
Article 119323- mai 2026 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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