Effects of antioxidants on cancer prevention and neuromotor performance in Atm deficient mice

Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Apr;46(4):1371-7. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2007.08.028. Epub 2007 Aug 29.

Abstract

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by immunodeficiency, neurodegeneration and cancer. The disease results from bi-allelic mutations in the AT mutated (ATM) gene involved in cell cycle checkpoint control and repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Evidence has been accumulating that oxidative stress is associated with AT and may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. This led to a hypothesis that antioxidants may alleviate the symptoms of AT. Consequently, several studies were conducted in Atm deficient mice to examine the role of antioxidants in cancer prevention and/or correction of neuromotor performance. N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), EUK-189, tempol, and 5-carboxy-1,1,3,3-tetramethylisoindolin-2-yloxyl (CTMIO) have been tested in Atm deficient mice. In contrast to other antioxidants, NAC has been used in the clinical practice for many decades and is available as a dietary supplement. In this article, we review chemoprevention studies in Atm deficient mice and, in more detail, our findings on the effect of NAC. Our short-term study showed that NAC suppressed genome rearrangements linked to cancer. The long-term study demonstrated that NAC reduced the incidence and multiplicity of lymphoma and improved some aspects of motor performance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Atm protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Acetylcysteine