We evaluated the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on immunity system irradiated by 12C6+ ion beam. Kun-Ming mice were whole-body irradiated by 12C6+ ion at doses of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 Gy. The results showed that in saline group, the lymphocytes DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), maleic dialdehyde, thymocytes number in G 0 /G 1 and apoptosis percentage increased with dose increment, and the levels of interferon-γ, glutathione, superoxide radical (SOD) and natural killer cells activity decreased with dose increment. However, there were no significant changes in NAC-treated group. The data indicated that pre-treatment with NAC could significantly remove the ROS by counteracting the glutamate, decrease excessive lipid peroxidation reaction and SOD damages, and protect DNA, lymphocytes and cytokines against irradiation.
We evaluated the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on immunity system irradiated by ^12C^6+ ion beam. Kun-Ming mice were whole-body irradiated by ^12C^6+ ion at doses of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 Gy. The results showed that in saline group, the lymphocytes DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), maleic dialdehyde, thymocytes number in Go/G1 and apoptosis percentage increased with dose increment, and the levels of interferon-y, glutathione, superoxide radical (SOD) and natural killer cells activity decreased with dose increment. However, there were no significant changes in NAC-treated group. The data indicated that pre-treatment with NAC could significantly remove the ROS by counteracting the glutamate, decrease excessive lipid peroxidation reaction and SOD damages, and protect DNA, lymphoeytes and cytokines against irradiation.