Phloroglucinol protects small intestines of mice from ionizing radiation by regulating apoptosis-related molecules: a comparative immunohistochemical study

J Histochem Cytochem. 2013 Jan;61(1):63-74. doi: 10.1369/0022155412468426. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

Phloroglucinol (PG) is a phenolic compound isolated from Ecklonia cava, a brown algae abundant on Jeju island, Korea. Previous reports have suggested that PG exerts antioxidative and cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress. In this study, we confirmed that PG protected against small intestinal damage caused by ionizing radiation, and we investigated its protective mechanism in detail. Regeneration of intestinal crypts in the PG-treated irradiated group was significantly promoted compared with that in irradiated controls. The expression level of proapoptotic molecules such as p53, Bax, and Bak in the small intestine was downregulated and that of antiapoptotic molecules such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(S/L) was augmented in the PG-treated group. On histological observation of the small intestine, PG inhibited the immunoreactivity of p53, Bax, and Bak and increased that of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(S/L). These results demonstrate the protective mechanisms of PG in mice against intestinal damage from ionizing radiation, providing the benefit of raising the apoptosis threshold of jejunal crypt cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoprotection
  • Gamma Rays / adverse effects
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intestine, Small / drug effects*
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Intestine, Small / radiation effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phloroglucinol / pharmacology*
  • Phloroglucinol / therapeutic use
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / metabolism
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / pathology
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Phloroglucinol