The Radioprotective Effect of Procaine and Procaine-Derived Product Gerovital H3 in Lymphocytes from Young and Aged Individuals

• Main Authors: Anca Ungurianu, Denisa Margina, Claudia Borsa, Cristina Ionescu, Gudrun von Scheven, Lucie Oziol, Philippe Faure, Yves Artur, Alexander Bürkle, Daniela Gradinaru, Maria Moreno-Villanueva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2020-01-01
• Series: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/3580934

Ionizing radiation induces genomic instability in living organisms, and several studies reported an ageing-dependent radiosensitivity. Chemical compounds, such as scavengers, radioprotectors, and modifiers, contribute to reducing the radiation-associated toxicity. These compounds are often antioxidants, and therefore, in order to be effective, they must be present before or during exposure to radiation. However, not all antioxidants provide radioprotection. In this study, we investigated the effects of procaine and of a procaine-based product Gerovital H3 (GH3) on the formation of endogenous and X-ray-induced DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from young and elderly individuals. Interestingly, GH3 showed the strongest radioprotective effects in PBMCs from young subjects, while procaine reduced the endogenous amount of DNA strand breaks more pronounced in aged individuals. Both procaine and GH3 inhibited lipid peroxidation, but procaine was more effective in inhibiting mitochondria free radicals’ generation, while GH3 showed a higher antioxidant action on macrophage-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the distinct effects of procaine and GH3 on DNA damage.