BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

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August 23, 2017 2:07 PM UTC

In vitro and mouse studies suggest the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine could help prevent radiation-induced intestinal injury. In a mouse model of the indication, pretreatment with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine before whole-body irradiation increased proliferation of intestinal crypt cells that are depleted by radiation compared with no treatment. In another mouse model of radiation-induced intestinal injury, pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine before whole-body irradiation increased the numbers of intestinal stem cells and transit-amplifying cells -- precursors to enterocytes, goblet cells and enteroendocrine cells -- in the intestinal crypts. Next steps could include testing the compound in additional models of intestinal radiation injury...