Radiation-induced DNA Strand Breaks Research Articles

Unraveling the Complexity of DNA Radiation Damage Using DNA Nanotechnology.

Radiation cancer therapies use different ionizing radiation qualities that damage DNA molecules in tumor cells by a yet not completely understood plethora of mechanisms and processes. While the direct action of the radiation is significant, the byproducts of the water radiolysis, mainly secondary low-energy electrons (LEEs, <20 eV) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), can also efficiently cause DNA damage, in terms of DNA strand breakage or DNA interstrand cross-linking. As a result, these types of DNA damage evolve into mutations hindering DNA replication, leading to cancer cell death. Concomitant chemo-radiotherapy explores the addition of radiosensitizing therapeutics commonly targeting DNA, such as platinum derivatives and halogenated nucleosides, to enhance the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on the DNA molecule. Further complicating the landscape of DNA damage are secondary structures such as G-quadruplexes occurring in telomeric DNA. These structures protect DNA from radiation damage, rendering them as promising targets for new and more selective cancer radiation treatments, rather than targeting linear DNA. However, despite extensive research, there is no single paradigm approach to understanding the mysterious way in which ionizing radiation causes DNA damage. This is due to the multidisciplinary nature of the field of research, which deals with multiple levels of biological organization, from the molecular building blocks of life toward cells and organisms, as well as with complex multiscale radiation-induced effects. Also, intrinsic DNA features, such as DNA topology and specific oligonucleotide sequences, strongly influence its response to damage from ionizing radiation. In this Account, we present our studies focused on the absolute quantification of photon- and low-energy electron-induced DNA damage in strategically selected target DNA sequences. Our methodology involves using DNA origami nanostructures, specifically the Rothemund triangle, as a platform to expose DNA sequences to either low-energy electrons or vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV, <15 eV) photons and subsequent atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. Through this approach, the effects of the DNA sequence, incorporation of halogenated radiosensitizers, DNA topology, and the radiation quality on radiation-induced DNA strand breakage have been systematically assessed and correlated with fundamental photon- and electron-driven mechanisms underlying DNA radiation damage. At lower energies, these mechanisms include dissociative electron attachment (DEA), where electrons attach to DNA molecules causing strand breaks, and dissociative photoexcitation of DNA. Additionally, further dissociative processes such as photoionization and electron impact contribute to the complex cascade of DNA damage events induced by ionizing radiation. We expect that emerging DNA origami-based approaches will lead to a paradigm shift in research fields associated with DNA damage and suggest future directions, which can foster the development of technological applications in nanomedicine, e.g., optimized cancer treatments or the molecular design of optimized radiosensitizing therapeutics.

Protective effect of Opuntia ficus indica cladode extract against gamma radiation-induced DNA strand breaks and base damage

Radiation therapy-related toxicity is becoming increasingly important as cancer treatment outcomes improve. It is common for radiation to damage cancer cells and normal cells by hydrolyzing H2O which leading to free radicals production. Response transcription factors and signal transduction pathways are activated, resulting in DNA damage. Natural antioxidants have attracted a lot of attention. My study aimed to assess the effectiveness of cactus cladode extract (CCE) in protecting DNA plasmids against γ-radiation. The samples were irradiated with 137Cs γ-rays at different doses in the absence or presence of CCE. Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis shows that the aqueous CCE prevents radiation-induced DNA damage. Indeed, the yields of SSB and DSBs are (78 ± 3) x10−4/Gy/plasmid and (0.75 ± 0.09) x 10−4/Gy/plasmid, respectively. However, the greatest fits for the yields for SSB and DSB forming, in the presence of CCE1 (0.5 μg), are (44 ± 2) x10−4/Gy/plasmid and (0.55 ± 0.05) x 10−4/Gy/plasmid, respectively. Despite, the yields for SSB and DSB formation in the presence of CCE2 (1 μg), are (31 ± 2) x10−4/Gy/plasmid and (0.48 ± 0.09) x 10−4/Gy/plasmid, respectively. While, the yields for SSB and DSB formation, in the presence of CCE3 (1.5 μg), are (22 ± 2) x10−4/Gy/plasmid and (0.4 ± 0.02) x 10−4/Gy/plasmid, respectively. Moreover, the CCE efficiently inhibit DNA base damage. A decrease of 70%, 83%, and 87% of the Nth-sensitive sites was found when the sample was irradiated with CCE1, CCE2, and CCE3, respectively. Moreover, we calculated a decrease of 66%, 79%, and 82% of the Fpg-sensitive sites when the sample was irradiated with CCE1, CCE2, and CCE3, respectively. In conclusion, my results indicate that the CCE is a potent radioprotector and hydroxyl radical scavenger; it efficiently inhibits DNA SSBs, DSBs and base damage. It suggests that this extract may be able to protect against genotoxicity, apoptosis, and nephrotoxicity.

Mixed secondary chromatin structure revealed by modeling radiation-induced DNA fragment length distribution

Spatial chromatin structure plays fundamental roles in many vital biological processes including DNA replication, transcription, damage and repair. However, the current understanding of the secondary structure of chromatin formed by local nucleosome-nucleosome interactions remains controversial, especially for the existence and conformation of 30 nm structure. Since chromatin structure influences the fragment length distribution (FLD) of ionizing radiation-induced DNA strand breaks, a 3D chromatin model fitting FLD patterns can help to distinguish different models of chromatin structure. Here, we developed a novel "30-C" model combining 30 nm chromatin structure models with Hi-C data, which measured the spatial contact frequency between different loci in the genome. We first reconstructed the 3D coordinates of the 25 kb bins from Hi-C heatmaps. Within the 25 kb bins, lower level chromatin structures supported by recent studies were filled. Simulated FLD patterns based on the 30-C model were compared to published FLD patterns induced by heavy ion radiation to validate the models. Importantly, the 30-C model predicted that the most probable chromatin fiber structure for human interphase fibroblasts in vivo was 45% zig-zag 30 nm fibers and 55% 10 nm fibers.

Investigation of the protection efficacy of Thai medicinal plants on irradiation-induced plasmid DNA damage

Extracts of Thai medicinal plants have been reported to be natural sources of antioxidants which can inhibit free radicals and have potential for radiation protection. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of five medicinal plant extracts, cinnamon, ginger, white kwao krua, black pepper, and moringa compared to gallic acid, which served as a positive control in the protection of plasmid pET-15b DNA after exposure to gamma irradiation. pET-15b plasmid DNA was irradiated by gamma radiation at 100 Gy with various concentrations of medicinal plant extracts and DNA damage was measured by using gel electrophoresis. The results showed that exposure of pET-15b plasmid DNA to 100 Gy of gamma radiation induced DNA strand breakage and plasmid DNA alteration from a supercoiled to open circular form. Extracts of moringa, cinnamon and ginger significantly reduced plasmid DNA damage by gamma radiation. While black pepper and white kwao krua extracts did not show observable radioprotective effects. The presence of moringa, cinnamon and ginger extracts during irradiation can protect pET-15b plasmid against radiation-induced DNA damage.

Influence of Acute Exercise on DNA Repair and PARP Activity before and after Irradiation in Lymphocytes from Trained and Untrained Individuals.

Several studies indicate that acute exercise induces DNA damage, whereas regular exercise increases DNA repair kinetics. Although the molecular mechanisms are not completely understood, the induction of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) during acute exhaustive exercise due to metabolic processes might be responsible for the observed DNA damage, while an adaptive increase in antioxidant capacity due to regular physical activity seems to play an important protective role. However, the protective effect of physical activity on exogenously induced DNA damage in human immune cells has been poorly investigated. We asked the question whether individuals with a high aerobic capacity would have an enhanced response to radiation-induced DNA damage. Immune cells are highly sensitive to radiation and exercise affects lymphocyte dynamics and immune function. Therefore, we measured endogenous and radiation-induced DNA strand breaks and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from endurance-trained (maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise V’O2max > 55 mL/min/kg) and untrained (V’O2max < 45 mL/min/kg) young healthy male volunteers before and after exhaustive exercise. Our results indicate that: (i) acute exercise induces DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes only in untrained individuals, (ii) following acute exercise, trained individuals repaired radiation-induced DNA strand breaks faster than untrained individuals, and (iii) trained subjects retained a higher level of radiation-induced PARP1 activity after acute exercise. The results of the present study indicate that increased aerobic fitness can protect immune cells against radiation-induced DNA strand breaks.

The degree of radiation-induced DNA strand breaks is altered by acute sleep deprivation and psychological stress and is associated with cognitive performance in humans.

Sleep deprivation is associated with impaired immune responses, cancer, and morbidity and mortality, and can degrade cognitive performance, although individual differences exist in such responses. Sleep deprivation induces DNA strand breaks and DNA base oxidation in animals, and psychological stress is associated with increased DNA damage in humans. It remains unknown whether sleep deprivation or psychological stress in humans affects DNA damage response from environmental stressors, and whether these responses predict cognitive performance during sleep deprivation. Sixteen healthy adults (ages 29-52 years; mean age ± SD, 36.4 ± 7.1 years; seven women) participated in a 5-day experiment involving two 8 hr time-in-bed (TIB) baseline nights, followed by 39 hr total sleep deprivation (TSD), and two 8-10 hr TIB recovery nights. A modified Trier Social Stress Test was conducted on the day after TSD. The Psychomotor Vigilance Test measured behavioral attention. DNA damage was assessed in blood cells collected at 5 time points, and blood cells were irradiated ex vivo. TSD, alone or in combination with psychological stress, did not induce significant increases in DNA damage. By contrast, radiation-induced DNA damage decreased significantly in response to TSD, but increased back to baseline when combined with psychological stress. Cognitively vulnerable individuals had more radiation-induced DNA strand breaks before TSD, indicating their greater sensitivity to DNA damage from environmental stressors. Our results provide novel insights into the molecular consequences of sleep deprivation, psychological stress, and performance vulnerability. They are important for fields involving sleep loss, radiation exposure, and cognitive deficits, including cancer therapy, environmental toxicology, and space medicine.

Loss of DUSP3 activity radiosensitizes human tumor cell lines via attenuation of DNA repair pathways

BackgroundRadiotherapy causes the regression of many human tumors by increasing DNA damage, and the novel molecular mechanisms underlying the genomic instability leading to cancer progression and metastasis must be elucidated. Atypical dual-specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3) has been shown to down-regulate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) to control the proliferation and apoptosis of human cancer cells. We have recently identified novel molecular targets of DUSP3 that function in DNA damage response and repair; however, whether DUSP3 affects these processes remains unknown. MethodsTumor cell lines in which DUSP3 activity was suppressed by pharmacological inhibitors or a targeted siRNA were exposed to gamma radiation, and proliferation, survival, DNA strand breaks and recombination repair pathways were sequentially analyzed. ResultsThe combination of reduced DUSP3 activity and gamma irradiation resulted in decreased cellular proliferation and survival and increased cellular senescence compared with the effects of radiation exposure alone. Gamma radiation-induced DNA damage was increased by the loss of DUSP3 activity and correlated with increased levels of phospho-H2AX protein and numbers of ionizing radiation-induced γ-H2AX foci, which were reflected in diminished efficiencies of homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair. Similar results were obtained in ATM-deficient cells, in which reduced DUSP3 activity increased radiosensitivity, independent of increased MAPK phosphorylation. ConclusionThe loss of DUSP3 activity markedly increases gamma radiation-induced DNA strand breaks, suggesting a potential novel role for DUSP3 in DNA repair. General significanceThe radioresistance of tumor cells is effectively reduced by a combination of approaches through the inhibition of DUSPs.

Melatonin attenuates 60 Co γ-ray-induced hematopoietic, immunological and gastrointestinal injuries in C57BL/6 male mice.

Protection of hematopoietic, immunological, and gastrointestinal injuries from deleterious effects of ionizing radiation is prime rational for developing radioprotector. The objective of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the radioprotective potential of melatonin against damaging effects of radiation-induced hematopoietic, immunological, and gastrointestinal injuries in mice. C57BL/6 male mice were intraperitoneally administered with melatonin (50-150mg/kg) 30min prior to whole-body radiation exposure of 5 and 7.5Gy using 60 Co-teletherapy unit. Thirty-day survival against 7.5Gy was monitored. Melatonin (100mg/kg) pretreatment showed 100% survival against 7.5Gy radiation dose. Melatonin pretreatment expanded femoral HPSCs, and inhibited spleenocyte DNA strands breaks and apoptosis in irradiated mice. At this time, it also protected radiation-induced loss of T cell sub-populations in spleen. In addition, melatonin pretreatment enhanced crypts regeneration and increased villi number and length in irradiated mice. Translocation of gut bacteria to spleen, liver and kidney were controlled in irradiated mice pretreated with melatonin. Radiation-induced gastrointestinal DNA strand breaks, lipid peroxidation, and expression of proapoptotic-p53, Bax, and antiapoptotic-Bcl-xL proteins were reversed in melatonin pretreated mice. This increase of Bcl-xL was associated with the decrease of Bax/Bcl-xL ratio. ABTS and DPPH radical assays revealed that melatonin treatment alleviated total antioxidant capacity in hematopoietic and gastrointestinal tissues. Present study demonstrated that melatonin pretreatment was able to prevent hematopoietic, immunological, and gastrointestinal radiation-induced injury, therefore, overcoming lethality in mice. These results suggest potential of melatonin in developing radioprotector for protection of bone marrow, spleen, and gastrointestine in planned radiation exposure scenarios including radiotherapy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 501-518, 2017.

Ganoderma lucidum total triterpenes prevent γ-radiation induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice in vivo

Objectives: The in vivo radio-protective effect of total triterpenes isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst was evaluated using Swiss albino mice, by pre-treatment with total triterpenes for 14 days, followed by a whole body exposure to γ-radiation.Methods: The activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) were analysed in liver and brain homogenates. The extent of lipid and protein peroxidation was also estimated in liver and brain homogenates after irradiation. Protection of radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood lymphocytes and bone marrow cells was assessed using the comet assay.Results: Total triterpenes were highly effective in reducing the levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation to near normal values in both liver and brain tissues. Total triterpenes, when administered in vivo, were also found to be successful in restoring the antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH level in liver and brain of irradiated mice. Administration of total triterpenes, prior to radiation exposure, significantly decreased the DNA strand breaks.Discussion: The results of the present study thus revealed the potential therapeutic use of Ganoderma total triterpenes as an adjuvant in radiation therapy.

Monte Carlo simulation of ionizing radiation induced DNA strand breaks utilizing coarse grained high-order chromatin structures

Ionizing radiation threatens genome integrity by causing DNA damage. Monte Carlo simulation of the interaction of a radiation track structure with DNA provides a powerful tool for investigating the mechanisms of the biological effects. However, the more or less oversimplification of the indirect effect and the inadequate consideration of high-order chromatin structures in current models usually results in discrepancies between simulations and experiments, which undermine the predictive role of the models. Here we present a biophysical model taking into consideration factors that influence indirect effect to simulate radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in eukaryotic cells with high-order chromatin structures. The calculated yields of single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks (DSBs) for photons are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The calculated yields of DSB for protons and α particles are consistent with simulations by the PARTRAC code, whereas an overestimation is seen compared with the experimental results. The simulated fragment size distributions for 60Co γ irradiation and α particle irradiation are compared with the measurements accordingly. The excellent agreement with 60Co irradiation validates our model in simulating photon irradiation. The general agreement found in α particle irradiation encourages model applicability in the high linear energy transfer range. Moreover, we demonstrate the importance of chromatin high-order structures in shaping the spectrum of initial damage.

Transient elevation of glycolysis confers radio-resistance by facilitating DNA repair in cells.

BackgroundCancer cells exhibit increased glycolysis for ATP production (the Warburg effect) and macromolecular biosynthesis; it is also linked with therapeutic resistance that is generally associated with compromised respiratory metabolism. Molecular mechanisms underlying radio-resistance linked to elevated glycolysis remain incompletely understood.MethodsWe stimulated glycolysis using mitochondrial respiratory modifiers (MRMs viz. di-nitro phenol, DNP; Photosan-3, PS3; Methylene blue, MB) in established human cell lines (HEK293, BMG-1 and OCT-1). Glucose utilization and lactate production, levels of glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes were investigated as indices of glycolysis. Clonogenic survival, DNA repair and cytogenetic damage were studied as parameters of radiation response.ResultsMRMs induced the glycolysis by enhancing the levels of two important regulators of glucose metabolism GLUT-1 and HK-II and resulted in 2 fold increase in glucose consumption and lactate production. This increase in glycolysis resulted in resistance against radiation-induced cell death (clonogenic survival) in different cell lines at an absorbed dose of 5 Gy. Inhibition of glucose uptake and glycolysis (using fasentin, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 3-bromopyruvate) in DNP treated cells failed to increase the clonogenic survival of irradiated cells, suggesting that radio-resistance linked to inhibition of mitochondrial respiration is glycolysis dependent. Elevated glycolysis also facilitated rejoining of radiation-induced DNA strand breaks by activating both non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) pathways of DNA double strand break repair leading to a reduction in radiation-induced cytogenetic damage (micronuclei formation) in these cells.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that enhanced glycolysis generally observed in cancer cells may be responsible for the radio-resistance, partly by enhancing the repair of DNA damage.

Protection of DNA From Ionizing Radiation-Induced Lesions by Asiaticoside.

This study aims to investigate whether asiaticoside, a triterpene glycoside, can afford protection to DNA from alterations induced by gamma radiation under in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo conditions. In vitro studies were done on plasmid pBR322 DNA, ex vivo studies were done on cellular DNA of human peripheral blood leukocytes, and in vivo investigations were conducted on cellular DNA of spleen and bone marrow cells of mice exposed to whole-body gamma radiation. The supercoiled form of the plasmid pBR322 DNA upon exposure to the radiation was converted into relaxed open circular form due to induction of strand breaks. Presence of asiaticoside along with the DNA during irradiation prevented the relaxation of the supercoiled form to the open circular form. When human peripheral blood leukocytes were exposed to gamma radiation, the cellular DNA suffered strand breaks as evidenced by the increased comet parameters in an alkaline comet assay. Asiaticoside, when present along with blood during irradiation ex vivo, prevented the strand breaks and the comet parameters were closer to that of the controls. Whole-body exposure of mice to gamma radiation resulted in a significant increase in comet parameters of DNA of bone marrow and spleen cells of mice as a result of radiation-induced strand breaks in DNA. Administration of asiaticoside prior to whole-body radiation exposure of the mice prevented this increase in radiation-induced increase in comet parameters, which could be the result of protection to DNA under in vivo conditions of radiation exposure. Thus, it can be concluded from the results that asiaticoside can offer protection to DNA from radiation-induced alterations under in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo conditions.

Protective Activity of C-Geranylflavonoid Analogs from Paulownia tomentosa against DNA Damage in 137Cs Irradiated AHH-1Cells

Radiotherapy is an important form of treatment for a wide range of cancers, but it can damage DNA and cause adverse effects. We investigated if the diplacone analogs of P. tomentosa were radio-protective in a human lymphoblastoid cell line (AHH-1). Four geranylated flavonoids, diplacone, 3'-O-methyl-5'-hydroxydiplacone, 3'-O-methyl-5'-O-methyldiplacone and 3'-O-methyldiplacol, were tested for their antioxidant and radio-protective effects. Diplacone analogs effectively scavenged free radicals and inhibited radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in vitro. They significantly decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and cellular DNA damage in 2 Gy-irradiated AHH-1 cells. Glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity in irradiated AHH-1 cells increased significantly after treatment with these analogs. The enhanced biological anti-oxidant activity and radioprotective activity of diplacone analogs maintained the survival of irradiated AHH-1 cells in a clonogenic assay. These data suggest that diplacone analogs may protect healthy tissue surrounding tumor cells during radiotherapy to ensure better control of radiotherapy and allow higher doses of radiotherapy to be employed.

Cluster pattern analysis of energy deposition sites for the brachytherapy sources 103Pd, 125I, 192Ir, 137Cs, and 60Co

Analysing the pattern of energy depositions may help elucidate differences in the severity of radiation-induced DNA strand breakage for different radiation qualities. It is often claimed that energy deposition (ED) sites from photon radiation form a uniform random pattern, but there is indication of differences in RBE values among different photon sources used in brachytherapy. The aim of this work is to analyse the spatial patterns of EDs from 103Pd, 125I, 192Ir, 137Cs sources commonly used in brachytherapy and a 60Co source as a reference radiation. The results suggest that there is both a non-uniform and a uniform random component to the frequency distribution of distances to the nearest neighbour ED. The closest neighbouring EDs show high spatial correlation for all investigated radiation qualities, whilst the uniform random component dominates for neighbours with longer distances for the three higher mean photon energy sources (192Ir, 137Cs, and 60Co). The two lower energy photon emitters (103Pd and 125I) present a very small uniform random component. The ratio of frequencies of clusters with respect to 60Co differs up to 15% for the lower energy sources and less than 2% for the higher energy sources when the maximum distance between each pair of EDs is 2 nm. At distances relevant to DNA damage, cluster patterns can be differentiated between the lower and higher energy sources. This may be part of the explanation to the reported difference in RBE values with initial DSB yields as an endpoint for these brachytherapy sources.

In vitro evaluation of Cordyceps militaris as a potential radioprotective agent.

Radiation is an important component of therapy for a wide range of malignant conditions. However, it triggers DNA damage and cell death in normal cells and results in adverse side-effects. Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris), a traditional medicinal mushroom, produces the bioactive compound, cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) and has multiple pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, antimetastatic, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether CM-AE, an extract obtained from C. militaris exerts protective effects against radiation-induced DNA damage. The protective effects of CM-AE were compared with those of cordycepin. CM-AE effectively increased free radical scavenging activity and decreased radiation-induced plasmid DNA strand breaks in in vitro assays. CM-AE significantly inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular DNA damage in 2 Gy irradiated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells. Moreover, treatment with CM-AE induced similar levels of phosphorylated H2AX in the cells, which reflects the initial DNA double-strand breaks in the irradiated cells compared with the non-irradiated CHO-K1 cells. However, cordycepin did not show free radical scavenging activity and did not protect against radiation-induced plasmid DNA or cellular DNA damage. These results suggest that the free radical scavenging activity of CM-AE contributes towards its DNA radioprotective effects and that the protective effects of CM-AE are much more potent to those of cordycepin. The data presented in this study may provide useful information for the screening of potent radioprotective materials.

WEISS LECTURECarbohydrate radicals: from ethylene glycol to DNA strand breakage

Radiation-induced DNA strand breakage results from the reactions of radicals formed at the sugar moiety of DNA. In order to elucidate the mechanism of this reaction investigations were first performed on low molecular weight model systems. Results from studies on deoxygenated aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol, 2-deoxy-d-ribose and other carbohydrates and, more relevantly, of d-ribose-5-phosphate have shown that substituents can be eliminated from the β-position of the radical site either proton and base-assisted (as in the case of the OH substituent), or spontaneously (as in the case of the phosphate substituent). In DNA the C(4’) radical undergoes strand breakage via this type of reaction. In the presence of oxygen the carbon-centred radicals are rapidly converted into the corresponding peroxyl radicals. Again, low molecular weights models have been investigated to elucidate the key reactions. A typical reaction of DNA peroxyl radicals is the fragmentation of the C(4’)-C(S’) bond, a reaction not observed in the absence of oxygen. Although OH radicals may be the important direct precursors of the sugar radicals of DNA, results obtained with poly(U) indicate that base radicals may well be of even greater importance. The base radicals, formed by addition of the water radicals (H and OH) to the bases would in their turn attack the sugar moiety to produce sugar radicals which then give rise to strand breakage and base release. For a better understanding of strand break formation it is therefore necessary to investigate in more detail the reactions of the base radicals. For a start, the radiolysis of uracil in oxygenated solutions has been reinvestigated, and it has been shown that the major peroxyl radical in this system undergoes base-catalysed elimination of , a reaction that involves the proton at N(l). In the nucleic acids the pyrimidines are bound at N(l) to the sugar moiety and this type of reaction can no longer occur. Therefore, with respect to the nucleic acids, pyrimidines are good models only in acid solutions where the elimination reaction is too slow to compete with the bimolecular reactions of the peroxyl radicals. Moreover, the long lifetime of the radical sites on the nucleic acid strand may allow reactions to occur which are kinetically of first order, and which cannot be studied in model systems at ordinary dose rates. It is therefore suggested to extend model system studies to low dose rates and to oligonucleo-tides. Such studies might eventually reveal the key reactions in radical-induced DNA degradation.

Protective activity of a novel resveratrol analogue, HS-1793, against DNA damage in 137Cs-irradiated CHO-K1 cells

Resveratrol has received considerable attention as a polyphenol with anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Radiation is an important component of therapy for a wide range of malignant conditions. However, it causes damage to normal cells and, hence, can result in adverse side effects. This study was conducted to examine whether HS-1793, a novel resveratrol analogue free from the restriction of metabolic instability and the high dose requirement of resveratrol, induces a protective effect against radiation-induced DNA damage. HS-1793 effectively scavenged free radicals and inhibited radiation-induced plasmid DNA strand breaks in an in vitro assay. HS-1793 significantly decreased reactive oxygen species and cellular DNA damage in 2 Gy-irradiated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells. In addition, HS-1793 dose-dependently reduced the levels of phosphorylated H2AX in irradiated CHO-K1 cells. These results indicate that HS-1793 has chemical radioprotective activity. Glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity in irradiated CHO-K1 cells increased significantly following HS-1793 treatment. The enhanced biological anti-oxidant activity and chemical radioprotective activity of HS-1793 maintained survival of irradiated CHO-K1 cells in a clonogenic assay. Therefore, HS-1793 may be of value as a radioprotector to protect healthy tissue surrounding tumor cells during radiotherapy to obtain better tumor control with a higher dose.

Bilirubin augments radiation injury and leads to increased infection and mortality in mice: Molecular mechanisms

Our earlier results demonstrated that clinically relevant concentrations of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) possessed immunotoxic effects. Whole-body irradiation (WBI) with 1 to 6Gy leads to acute radiation syndrome, immunosuppression, and makes the host susceptible to infection. Since hyperbilirubinemia has been shown to be associated with several types of cancer, the present studies were undertaken to evaluate the radiomodifying effects of UCB in radiation-exposed mice having elevated levels of UCB. Pretreatment of splenic lymphocytes with UCB (1–50μM at UCB/BSA ratio <1) augmented radiation-induced DNA strand breaks, MMP loss, calcium release, and apoptosis. Combination treatment of mice with UCB (50mg/kg bw) followed by WBI (2Gy) 0.5h later, resulted in significantly increased splenic atrophy, bone marrow aplasia, decreased counts of peritoneal exudate cells, and different splenocyte subsets such as CD3+ T, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, CD19+ B, and CD14+ macrophages as compared to either UCB or WBI treatment. Hematological studies showed that WBI-induced lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia were further aggravated in the combination treatment group. UCB pretreatment of mice potentiated WBI-induced apoptosis and decreased WBI-induced loss of functional response of various immune cells leading to augmentation of immunosuppression and infection susceptibility caused by WBI. In an acute bacterial peritonitis model, UCB pretreatment of mice significantly increased WBI-induced proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide, and peritoneal bacterial load resulting in increased infection and death. Studies using the pharmacological inhibitor of p38MAPK demonstrated the involvement of p38MAPK activation in the inflammatory cascade of peritonitis. These findings should prove useful in understanding the potential risk to hyperbilirubinemic patients during radiotherapy and victims of acute radiation exposure in the course of radiation accidents.

Hypoxic radiosensitization by nitric oxide

Purpose Nitric oxide (NO) radiosensitizes mammalian cells significantly more efficiently than oxygen but the mechanism of this effect is unknown. We have studied the effect of NO on radiation-induced single strand breaks in plasmid DNA, changes to DNA bases, cellular double strand breaks and cell survival to gain further information into the mechanisms of radiosensitization. Results The yields of plasmid DNA strand breaks are reduced in the presence of NO when compared with the yield induced by hydroxyl radical alone – post-irradiation treatment with DNA glycosylases however revealed that damaged nucleotides are formed in the presence of NO as seen through the formation of additional strand breaks. NO reacts with radiation-induced dGMP (2’-deoxyguanosine monophosphate) radicals to produce specific guanine modifications. Chemical mechanisms for these changes have been proposed. V79-4 cells are radiosensitized by NO more efficiently in exponential growth; these cells also exhibit enhanced γH2AX staining, a marker for double strand breaks (DSB). The maximum numbers of foci are formed later and remain longer after NO damage relative to DSB generated in anoxia, suggesting formation of replication-induced DSB. Conclusions It is tentatively proposed that NO may radiosensitize cells by causing specific DNA damage which is difficult to repair - future studies will focus on identifying NO-induced DNA lesions in irradiated cells and increasing our understanding into how these lesions may enhance DNA damage following replication and repair.

Sesamol as a Potential Radioprotective Agent:In VitroStudies

Protection against radiation-induced DNA strand breaks is an important aspect in the design and development of a radioprotector. In this study, the radioprotective efficacy of sesamol, a natural antioxidant, was investigated in aqueous solution of plasmid DNA (pBR322) and compared with that of melatonin, a known antioxidant-based radioprotector. Thermal denaturation studies on irradiated calf thymus DNA were also carried out with sesamol and melatonin. Sesamol demonstrated greater radioprotective efficacy in both plasmid DNA and calf thymus DNA. To assess the radical scavenging capacity of sesamol and melatonin, 2-deoxyribose degradation, DPPH and ABTS assays were performed. Sesamol exhibited more scavenging capacity compared to melatonin. In vitro studies with V79 cells showed that sesamol is 20 times more potent than melatonin. It is proposed that the greater radioprotective efficacy of sesamol could be due to its greater capacity for scavenging of free radicals compared to melatonin. The results will be helpful in understanding the mechanisms and development of sesamol as a radioprotector.