Purpose-To determine whether administration of a catalytic antioxidant, Mn(III) tetrakis(N,N′-diethylimidazolium-2-yl) porphyrin, AEOL 10150, with SOD mimetic properties reduces the severity of radiation-induced injury to the lung from single dose irradiation (RT) of 28 Gy.Materials/Methods-Animals were randomly divided into four different dose groups (0, 1, 10 and 30 mg/kg/day of AEOL 10150), receiving either short (1 week) or long-term (10 weeks) drug administration via osmotic pumps. Animals received single dose irradiation (RT) of 28 Gy to the right hemithorax. Breathing rates, body weights, blood samples, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were used to assess lung damage.Results-There was no significant difference in any of the study endpoints between the irradiated controls and the 3 groups receiving RT and short-term administration of AEOL 10150. For the long term administration functional determinants of lung damage 20 weeks post radiation were significantly worse for RT+PBS and RT+1mg/kg/day of AEOL 10150 as compared to the irradiated groups treated with higher doses of AEOL 10150 (10 or 30mg/kg/day), Lung histology at 20 weeks revealed a significant decrease in structural damage and collagen deposition in animals receiving 10 or 30mg/kg/day after radiation in comparison to RT+PBS and 1mg/kg/day groups. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a significant reduction in macrophage accumulation, oxidative stress and hypoxia in animals receiving AEOL 10150 (10 or 30mg/kg/day) after lung irradiation compared to RT+PBS and 1mg/kg/day groups.
Conclusion-The chronic administration of novel catalytic antioxidant, AEOL 10150, demonstrates a significant protective effect from radiation-induced lung injury. AEOL 10150 has its primary impact on the cascade of events following irradiation and adding drug prior to irradiation and its short-term administration have no significant additional benefits.