The Radioprotective Effects of Melatonin and Nanoselenium on DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Peripheral Lymphocytes Caused by I-131

Published on Friday, 03 September 2021

Abstract

Background: One of the treatment modalities for thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism is radioiodine-131 (I-131) therapy. The use of this therapeutic modality is not completely safe and can lead to oxidative stress, eventually DNA damages. However, these radiation-induced damages can be reduced by antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the potential radioprotective effects of melatonin and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) caused by I-131.

Materials and methods: After obtaining informed consent, 6 ml blood was taken from each volunteer. The samples were divided into two general groups of control (without I-131) and with I-131. Each group was also divided into three subgroups, including without antioxidant, melatonin, and SeNPs. The samples of control group were incubated for 2 h after adding the antioxidants. The samples of I-131 group were first incubated for 1 h with the antioxidants and then the samples re-incubated for another 1 h after adding the I-131. Then, the samples were prepared for γH2AX assay.

Results: The findings showed that after 1 h of incubation with 20 μCi I-131/2 mL, the DSB levels increased by 102.9% in comparison with the control group. In the I-131 group, there were significant reductions of the DSB levels after incubation with melatonin (P < 0.001) and SeNPs (P < 0.001) in comparison with the without antioxidant subgroup. Furthermore, the DSB levels at the melatonin + I-131 and the SeNPs + I-131 subgroups decreased to 38% and 30%, respectively, compared to the I-131 subgroup.

Conclusion: According to the obtained findings, it can be concluded that the use of melatonin and SeNPs (as radioprotector agents) can reduce the DSB levels induced by I-131 in peripheral lymphocytes.

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- The Di Bella Method (A Variable Part - Selenium methonine, 40 μg capsules, twice a day);

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Melatonin tablets. From 30-40mg/day up to 200mg/day orally in patients with advanced stage of cancer disease and/or patients without respond to traditional treatments);

- Melatonin use in cancer patients have started in 1974, when melatonin prepared according to Prof. Di Bella’s formulation [...]. For 11 days was administered to the patient, admitted to the general medical ward at the Maggiore-Pizzardi Hospital in Bologna, very slowly (over approx. 8 hours) and intravenously administered 1000 mg of melatonin for 11 days. During the course of each day, the patient was intravenously administered 4 saline drips of 500 ml, each containing ten 25 mg bottles of freeze-dried melatonin, lasting 2 hours, totaling 1000 mg per day. No other drug of any kind was administered in order to ascertain the effect of the MLT without interference [...]. From Melatonin with adenosine solubilized in water and stabilized with glycine for oncological treatment - technical preparation, effectivity and clinical findings;

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