PD-0428: Radiation pneumonitis with stereotactic body radiotherapy: effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors as radiation countermeasures for long-duration space flights

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are effective countermeasures to chronic radiation injuries in rodent models, and there is evidence for similar effects in humans. In rodent models ACE inhibitors are effective mitigators of radiation injury to kidney, lung, central nervous system (CNS) and skin, even when started weeks after irradiation. In humans, the best data for their efficacy as radiation countermeasures comes from retrospective studies of injuries in radiotherapy patients. We propose that ACE inhibitors, at doses approved for human use for other indications, could be used to reduce the risk of chronic radiation injuries from deep-space exploration. Because of the potential interaction of ACE inhibitors and microgravity (due to effects of ACE inhibitors on fluid balance) use might be restricted to post-exposure when/if radiation exposures reached a danger level. A major unresolved issue for this approach is the sparse evidence for the efficacy of ACE inhibitors after low-dose-rate exposure and/or for high-LET radiations (as would occur on long-duration space flights). A second issue is that the lack of a clear mechanism of action of the ACE inhibitors as mitigators makes obtaining an appropriate label under the Food and Drug Administration Animal Rule difficult.

Targets for protection and mitigation of radiation injury

Protection of normal tissues against toxic effects of ionizing radiation is a critical issue in clinical and environmental radiobiology. Investigations in recent decades have suggested potential targets that are involved in the protection against radiation-induced damages to normal tissues and can be proposed for mitigation of radiation injury. Emerging evidences have been shown to be in contrast to an old dogma in radiation biology; a major amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell toxicity occur during some hours to years after exposure to ionizing radiation. This can be attributed to upregulation of inflammatory and fibrosis mediators, epigenetic changes and disruption of the normal metabolism of oxygen. In the current review, we explain the cellular and molecular changes following exposure of normal tissues to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, we review potential targets that can be proposed for protection and mitigation of radiation toxicity.