Management of Arthritis by Exposure to Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation

This Study was designed to examine the effect of low- dose level of gamma-radiation (0.25 and 0.50 Gy) on the inflammation process using the adjuvant-induced arthritis model (AIA) in rats in an attempt to explore the effect of radiation on inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress and certain hepatic trace elements. Animals were divided into 4 groups, control and other 3 groups were injected with AIA; of which 2 groups of rats were exposed to a single dose level of gamma-rays radiation of 0.25 and 0.50 Gy on day 14 after induction of arthritis into the hind paw. Serum prostaglandins (PGE2), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), blood glutathione (GSH) levels and some hepatic trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Se) were investigated one week after exposure to radiation. Data collected from arthritic non-irradiated rat's revealed increase in PGE2, TNF-α and MDA levels, while noticeable decline in contents of GSH and reduction in the concentration levels of hepatic trace elements were observed. Irradiation of arthritic rats at radiation dose level of either 0.25 or 0.50 Gy exhibited a marked increase in blood GSH level and maintained restoration of hepatic trace elements within normal levels. Low-dose of radiation has attenuated the increase in TNF-α and PGE2 level in serum and minimized the serum MDA level. Our results demonstrated that low-dose gamma-radiation has a suppressing effect on the development of the pathology in AIA in rats which might be useful in clinical implications