Chemoprevention of Radiation-Induced DNA Double-Strand Breaks with Antioxidants

Double-strand breaks (DSB) are considered to be the most relevant X-ray-induced DNA damages. γ-H2AX immunofluorescence microscopy is a sensitive and reliable method for the quantification of distinct DSB. The detectable amount of these DNA damages correlates well with the dose received. A protective effect of different antioxidants has been postulated. This review explains the principle of the γ-H2AX technique, describes important results concerning DSB in radiologic examinations, and provides an overview on studies evaluating the effect of antioxidants on radiation-induced DNA damages with a special focus on recent studies using the γ-H2AX method.