Radioprotective effect of epicatechin in cultured human fibroblasts and zebrafish.

Abstract

Radiation-induced normal cell damage limits the delivery of high-dose radiation

to targeted cancer. This study investigated the effect of epicatechin (EC), a

minor component of green tea extracts, on radiation-induced cellular damage in

vitro in primary cultured human fibroblasts and in vivo in a zebrafish model.

Cell viability, proliferation and wound-healing efficacy, mitochondrial membrane

potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as changes in the

signaling pathway related to apoptosis were investigated in fibroblasts. The

therapeutic effects of EC were explored in a zebrafish model. EC increased

clonogenic survival and restored the migration ability of the fibroblasts after

irradiation. EC inhibited radiation-induced ROS generation, mitochondrial

dysfunction and cell death. EC significantly reduced the expression of p-JNK,

p-38, and cleaved caspase-3 compared with their significant increase after

radiation treatment. EC attenuated the radiation-induced embryotoxicity in a

zebrafish model. These results suggest that EC represents an effective means of

reducing cellular damage and facilitating wound healing after radiation exposure.