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T. Cervelli [1] and D. Panetta [1] and T. Navarra [1] and S. Gadhiri [1] and P. Salvadori [1] and A. Galli [1] and D. Caramella [2] and G. Basta [1] and E. Picano [1] and S. Del Turco [1]

Academic Editor: Walid Rachidi

1, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Council of National Research (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy, cnr.it

2, Radiologia Diagnostica e Interventistica, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy, unipi.it

Received Mar 6, 2017; Revised May 17, 2017; Accepted Jul 3, 2017

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

1. Introduction

The employment of medical imaging diagnostic procedures delivering relatively low doses of ionizing radiation (IR) has never stop to grow since the last years [1, 2]. Despite many clinical advantages, exposure IR, even at low-doses, may cause damage at biological systems and predispose individuals at an increasing risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [3–5]. Low doses of IR induce oxidative stress [6–8]. The excessive accumulation of ROS may provoke structural modifications to biological systems inducing cellular damage [9, 10]. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most serious consequence of free radicals after radiation exposure [11] and, if inefficiently repaired, can lead to carcinogenesis and predispose to vascular aging processes [12, 13].

Endothelium seems to play an important role in the cardiovascular response to ionizing radiation. Alterations of endothelial function induced by low-dose irradiation increases the risk of CVD [14]. We have previously showed that low doses of X-ray irradiation can induce oxidative stress and DSBs in human endothelial cells predisposing to accelerate vascular inflammation, from which the atherosclerotic process can arise [15].

Recently, there has been a growing interest in research into the protective role of antioxidant agents against radiation-induced oxidative stress [16]. ROS-mediated harmful effects may be promptly quenched not only by endogenous defense mechanisms but also by taking supplements of antioxidants that are able to quench oxidative stress caused by ionizing radiation, therefore reducing the potential risks for human health [16]. In vitro and animal studies [17–20] have demonstrated the efficacy of multiple antioxidants in the protection of tissues from damage induced by ionizing radiation.

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