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Published on: December 27, 2017
[Effect of Ellagic Acid on the Growth and Platelet-Producing Function of Megakaryocytes after X-Ray Irradiation]
Kang Sun1, Chun-Liang Liu1, Fan-Bi Meng1
1State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Cyrus Tang Medical Institute, Soochow University, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of ellagic acid on the growth and platelet-producing function of megakaryocytes after X-ray irradiation, in order to clarify the therapeutic effect of ellagic acid on ionizing radiation-induced thrombocytopenia.
Methods:
In in vitro experiments, human primitive megakaryocytes CMK cells were treated with ellagic acid and irradiated with X-rays using a bio-irradiator. The proliferation of CMK cells was detected by CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of CMK cells were detected by flow cytometry. In in vivo experiments, C57BL/6J male mice were given gastric gavage with ellagic acid and irradiated with X-rays using a bio-irradiator. The number of megakaryocytes in the mouse bone marrow was measured by HE staining and immunohistochemistry. The apoptosis rate, ROS level and polyploid content of mouse bone marrow megakaryocytes were detected by flow cytometry, and the counts of platelets in the peripheral blood of mice were detected by a hemocytometer after X-rays irradiation.
Results:
In vitro experiments showed that ellagic acid treatment at different concentrations (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L) could increase the proliferation rate of CMK cells after X-ray irradiation (5 μmol/L showing the best effect), decrease the content of intracellular ROS levels, but did not affect the apoptosis rate.in vivo experiments showed that gavage of ellagic acid at a concentration of 20 mg/kg could delay the decrease of platelet number in the peripheral blood of X-ray irradiated mice and promote recovery, increase the number and the polyploid content of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, and reduce the ROS content, but did not affect the apoptosis rate.
Conclusion:
Ellagic acid can play a therapeutic role in radiation-induced thrombocytopenia by increasing the number and platelet-producing capacity of megakaryocytes in vivo and ex vivo after X-ray irradiation, which may act by reducing ROS produced by ionizing radiation.
