Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, 35620 Izmir, Türkiye.
Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Taksim Research and Training Hospital, 34433 Istanbul, Türkiye.
Tomography. 2024 Aug 29;10(9):1342-1353. doi: 10.3390/tomography10090101.
Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), a serious side effect of thoracic radiotherapy, can lead to acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) and chronic pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Despite various interventions, no effective protocol exists to prevent pneumonitis. Oxytocin (OT), known for its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant properties, has not been explored for its potential in mitigating RILI.
This study involved 24 female Wistar albino rats, divided into three groups: control group, radiation (RAD) + saline, and RAD + OT. The RAD groups received 18 Gy of whole-thorax irradiation. The RAD + OT group was treated with OT (0.1 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 16 weeks. Computerizing tomography (CT) imaging and histopathological, biochemical, and blood gas analyses were performed to assess lung tissue damage and inflammation.
Histopathological examination showed significant reduction in alveolar wall thickening, inflammation, and vascular changes in the RAD + OT group compared to the RAD + saline group. Biochemical analysis revealed decreased levels of TGF-beta, VEGF, and PDGF, and increased BMP-7 and prostacyclin in the RAD + oxytocin group ( < 0.05). Morphometric analysis indicated significant reductions in fibrosis, edema, and immune cell infiltration. CT imaging demonstrated near-normal lung parenchyma density in the RAD + oxytocin group ( < 0.001).
Oxytocin administration significantly mitigates radiation-induced pneumonitis in rats, implying that is has potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing and treating RILI.
放射性肺损伤（RILI）是胸部放射治疗的一种严重副作用，可导致急性放射性肺炎（RP）和慢性肺纤维化（PF）。尽管有各种干预措施，但目前尚无预防肺炎的有效方案。催产素（OT）以其抗炎、抗凋亡和抗氧化特性而闻名，但尚未探讨其在减轻 RILI 方面的潜力。
本研究涉及 24 只雌性 Wistar 白化大鼠，分为三组：对照组、放射（RAD）+生理盐水组和 RAD+OT 组。RAD 组接受 18Gy 的全胸照射。RAD+OT 组每天腹腔内给予 OT（0.1mg/kg）16 周。通过计算机断层扫描（CT）成像和组织病理学、生化和血气分析评估肺组织损伤和炎症。
组织病理学检查显示，与 RAD+生理盐水组相比，RAD+OT 组肺泡壁增厚、炎症和血管变化明显减少。生化分析显示，RAD+OT 组 TGF-β、VEGF 和 PDGF 水平降低，BMP-7 和前列环素水平升高（<0.05）。形态计量学分析表明纤维化、水肿和免疫细胞浸润显著减少。CT 成像显示 RAD+OT 组肺实质密度接近正常（<0.001）。
催产素给药可显著减轻大鼠放射性肺炎，表明其具有作为预防和治疗 RILI 的治疗剂的潜力。
