Mitigation of radiation-induced dermatitis by activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 using topical alda-1 in mice

S Ning, GR Budas, EN Churchill… - Radiation …, 2012 - meridian.allenpress.com
S Ning, GR Budas, EN Churchill, CH Chen, SJ Knox, D Mochly-Rosen
Radiation research, 2012meridian.allenpress.com
Radiation-induced dermatitis is a debilitating clinical problem in cancer patients undergoing
cancer radiation therapy. It is also a possible outcome of exposure to high levels of radiation
due to accident or hostile activity. We report that activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2
(ALDH2) enzymatic activity using the allosteric agonist, Alda-1, significantly reduced 4-
hydroxynonenal adducts accumulation, delayed the onset of radiation dermatitis and
substantially reduced symptoms in a clinically-relevant model of radiation-induced …
Radiation-induced dermatitis is a debilitating clinical problem in cancer patients undergoing cancer radiation therapy. It is also a possible outcome of exposure to high levels of radiation due to accident or hostile activity. We report that activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) enzymatic activity using the allosteric agonist, Alda-1, significantly reduced 4-hydroxynonenal adducts accumulation, delayed the onset of radiation dermatitis and substantially reduced symptoms in a clinically-relevant model of radiation-induced dermatitis. Importantly, Alda-1 did not radioprotect tumors in mice. Rather, it increased the sensitivity of the tumors to radiation therapy. This is the first report of reactive aldehydes playing a role in the intrinsic radiosensitivity of normal and tumor tissues. Our findings suggest that ALDH2 represents a novel target for the treatment of radiation dermatitis without reducing the benefit of radiotherapy.
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