Radioprotection by biological-response modifiers alone and in combination with WR-2721. Scientific report

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5842485

Patchen, M L; D'Alesandro, M M; Chirigos, M A; Weiss, J F

Even when used alone, glucan can function protectively and/or therapeutically in radiation-injured host. When used in this manner, 'radioprotective' potential appears to be limited to (Dose Reduction Factors) of 1.2 - 1.3. However, when used in combination with even low doses of traditional aminothiol radioprotectors such as WR-2721, glucan can additively or synergistically increase DRFs to 1.5 - 1.6. Such results suggest that not only better radioprotection but also reduced toxicity may be obtained by using low-to-modest doses of several radioprotective agents that act via different mechanisms. Furthermore, based on measurements of motor performance in mice, glucan even appears to reduce the behavioral toxicity of WR-2721. Glucan is only one of several macrophage-activating Biological Response Modifiers (BRMs) that have been demonstrated to be both hemopoietic stimulants and radioprotectors. Numerous other BRMs remain to be evaluated for these effects, and they may prove to be as good as or better than glucan as radioprotectors. As more data accumulate, it appears that these agents (alone or in combination with other agents) are establishing their usefulness in the treatment and/or prevention of acute radiation injury.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Inst., Bethesda, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5842485
• Report Number(s): AD-A-207914/3/XAB; AFRRI-SR-89-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CARBOHYDRATES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSE RATES
DRUGS
EVALUATION
INJURIES
MAMMALS
MICE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
THIOLS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES