Metformin Protects Against Radiation-Induced Heart Injury and Attenuates the Upregulation of Dual Oxidase Genes Following Rat's Chest Irradiation.

Figures

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  Fig. 1. The expression of IL4Ra1, IL13Ra2, DUOX1, and DUOX2 in different groups. Results show an increase in the expression of genes following exposure to radiation. Treatment with metformin alleviates upregulation of these genes (t-test, P < 0.05, a=significant compared to control; b: significant compared to radiation group; MET=metformin treatment; RAD= Radiation group; RAD+MET= radiation plus metformin treatment)

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  Fig. 2. The levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in rat’s heart tissues following irradiation or treatment with metformin before irradiation. Irradiation caused a significant increase in IL-4, while treatment with metformin before irradiation decreased its level. Data also did not show any significant change in the level of IL-13 (t-test, P < 0.05, a=significant compared to control; b: significant compared to radiation group; MET= metformin treatment; RAD= Radiation group; RAD+MET= radiation plus metformin treatment)

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  Fig. 3. Infiltration of inflammatory cells (mainly lymphocytes) in the heart tissues following irradiation of rat’s chest. Infiltration of these cells in radiation + metformin group was similar to control group. A: Control; B: metformin; C: radiation; D: radiation + metformin (H&E staining)