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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2007; 13(22): 3043-3046
Published online Jun 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i22.3043
Published online Jun 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i22.3043
Radiation-induced intestinal inflammation
Meritxell Mollà, Radioncology Department, Instituto Oncologico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain
Julián Panés, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, CIBER-EHD, Spain
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Meritxell Mollà, Radioncology Department, Instituto Oncologico Teknon, c/Vilana 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain. meritxellmolla@hotmail.com
Telephone: +34-93-2906471 Fax: +34-93-2906472
Received: December 19, 2006
Revised: February 3, 2007
Accepted: March 1, 2007
Published online: June 14, 2007
Revised: February 3, 2007
Accepted: March 1, 2007
Published online: June 14, 2007
Abstract
Radiation induces an important inflammatory response in the irradiated organs, characterized by leukocyte infiltration and vascular changes that are the main limiting factor in the application of this therapeutic modality for the treatment of cancer. Recently, a considerable investigative effort has been directed at determining the molecular mechanisms by which radiation induces leukocyte recruitment, in order to create strategies to prevent intestinal inflammatory damage. In these review, we consider current available evidence on the factors governing the process of leukocyte recruitment in irradiated organs, mainly derived from experimental studies, with special attention to adhesion molecules, and their value as therapeutic targets.
Keywords: Inflammation, Radiation, Leukocyte, Endothelium, Adhesion molecules