Repeated 0.5-Gy γ-ray irradiation attenuates autoimmune manifestations in MRL-lpr/lpr mice

Purpose: MRL-lpr/lpr mice, a model for various autoimmune diseases, were repeatedly irradiated with 0.5 Gy of γ-rays, and changes in their autoimmune manifestations were investigated.

Materials and methods: MRL-lpr/lpr mice at 13 weeks of age were maintained in plastic cages and exposed whole-body to 0.5 Gy γ-ray irradiation from a ¹³⁷Cs source 5 times per week for 4 weeks, from the time they were 13 weeks old until they reached 17 weeks old. Changes of autoimmune manifestations were examined 3 weeks later at the 20th week.

Results: Splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and proteinuria in MRL-lpr/lpr mice were clearly ameliorated by a total dose of 10 Gy (0.5 Gy/day×5 days/week for 4 weeks). Histologically severe disease-specific damage to the kidney and the salivary gland, i.e., glomerulonephritis and sialoadenitis, was also improved after irradiation. CD3⁺ CD4^? CD8^? CD45R/B220⁺ T cell numbers, which proliferate abnormally in MRL-lpr/lpr mice, were significantly decreased by the irradiation, possibly through induction of apoptosis. The elevated NO₂^? and NO₃^? (NO_x^?) production by macrophages of MRL-lpr/lpr mice was lowered by the irradiation. The irradiation also prolonged the life span of MRL-lpr/lpr mice. These phenomena may contribute to the amelioration of autoimmune manifestations in MRL-lpr/lpr mice exposed to repeated small-doses of γ-rays.

Conclusions: Repeated small-dose γ-ray exposure ameliorates the autoimmune manifestations in MRL-lpr/lpr model mice.     

Analysis of immune cell populations and cytokine profiles in murine splenocytes exposed to whole-body low-dose irradiation

Purpose: In contrast to high-dose therapeutic irradiation, definitive research detailing the physiological effects of low-dose irradiation is limited. Notably, the immunological response elicited after low-dose irradiation remains controversial.

Materials and methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were whole- body-irradiated with a single or three daily fractions up to a total dose of 0.1, 1, or 10 cGy. Blood and spleen were harvested 2, 7 and 14 days after irradiation.

Results: The splenic CD4⁺ T cell subpopulations were temporarily increased at 2 days after single or fractionated irradiation, whereas the percentage of dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages was decreased. Whereas CD8⁺ T cell populations were decreased in single-dose irradiated mice at day 7, early and sustained reduction of CD8⁺ T cell numbers was observed in fractionated- dose-irradiated mice from day 2 until day 14. In addition, single-dose irradiation resulted in a Th1 cytokine expression profile, whereas fractionated-dose irradiation drove a Th2 shift. Additionally, increased expression of immune-related factors was observed at early time-points with single-dose irradiation, in contrast to the dose-independent induction following fractionated-dose irradiation.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that low-dose irradiation modulates the immune response in mice, where the sensitivity and kinetics of the induced response vary according to the dosing method.     

X射线全身照射后脾细胞内[Ca2+)]i对Con A反应性的变化

目的 研究电离辐射对ConA激活的脾细胞内游离钙离子[Ca²⁺]i)动员的影响, 以探讨电离辐射免疫抑制作用的发生机理。方法 采用Fura2/AM双波长荧光测定法检测了X射线全身照射后的小鼠脾细胞内[Ca²⁺]i对ConA反应性的变化。结果 小鼠接受0、0.5、1、2、4和6Gy吸收剂量的X射线全身照射后24小时, 脾细胞内[Ca²⁺]i对ConA反应性呈剂量依赖性下降, 表现为[Ca²⁺]i上升幅度减小、上升至峰值时间延长。2GyX射线全身照射后的时程观察表明, 照后2小时细胞内[Ca²⁺]i对ConA反应性开始下降, 24小时达最低点, 照后5天才略有回升。结论 电离辐射所致免疫功能抑制与其抑制淋巴细胞内[Ca²⁺]i动员等信息传递过程有关。     

Low dose gamma-irradiation differentially modulates antioxidant defense in liver and lungs of Balb/c mice

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of low-dose (<50 cGy) whole body γ-irradiation on the antioxidant defense system in the liver and the lungs of mice at various post-irradiation intervals.

Materials and methods: Male Balb/c mice, 5 – 6 weeks of age, were divided into irradiated and non-irradiated groups. Whole body irradiation was done with γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source at doses of 10, 25 and 50 cGy (48.78 cGy/min). Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were measured in the liver and the lungs at 4, 12 and 24 h after irradiation.

Results: Lipid peroxidation increased by 1.38 and 2.0 fold in lung and liver respectively at 12 h after exposure to 25 cGy. Whole body exposure to 25 and 50 cGy significantly (p < 0.05) increased the hepatic reduced glutathione at 4 h. Reduced glutathione continued to rise until 12 h and returned to the basal level at 24 h, whereas in the lungs it remained elevated until 24 h at 10 and 25 cGy. Antioxidant enzymes activities for superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase increased by 1.22, 1.13, 1.22 and 1.11 fold respectively (p < 0.05) in the liver at 4 h after exposure to 50 cGy and remained elevated at almost the same level up to 12 h after exposure. Surprisingly these antioxidant defense enzymes remained unaltered in the lung at the above radiation doses.

Conclusions: Low-dose whole body γ-irradiation differentially modulates the antioxidant defense system in the liver and lungs of mice. The induction of endogenous glutathione, immediately after exposure to low-dose γ-irradiation, may be beneficial in protecting the cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced oxidative stress.     

18F-FDG micro-PET代谢显像评估大鼠放射性认知功能障碍的实验研究

目的 研究大鼠放射性脑损伤模型中葡萄糖代谢与神经元活性的相关性,探讨2-¹⁸F-2-脱氧-D-葡萄糖（¹⁸F-FDG）micro-PET用于放射性认知功能障碍评估的潜在价值。方法 将3周龄雄性SD大鼠按照随机数表法分成对照组以及全脑照射组,每组10只,脑照射组利用小动物精确放疗仪给予10 Gy X射线照射,对照组不予照射。通过Morris水迷宫（MWM）实验评估大鼠认知功能,对两组大鼠脑部micro-PET图像数据进行对比分析,免疫组织化学染色检测神经元活性标记物c-Fos蛋白在脑内的表达变化,免疫荧光染色检测幼稚神经元标志物DCX及新生成熟神经元标志物BrdU/NeuN阳性细胞数的变化。结果 照射3个月后,与对照组相比,全脑照射的大鼠在MWM定向航行实验中第2至4天的潜伏期均显著延长（t=2.179、3.393、3.219,P<0.05）,MWM空间探索实验中的目标象限的探索时间百分比减少（t=3.857,P<0.01）,提示全脑照射可引起海马依赖性认知能力下降;SPM分析micro-PET图像显示全脑照射组海马区域葡萄糖代谢显著降低（t=5.12,P<0.05）;此外,全脑照射组海马区域神经元活性标记蛋白c-Fos的表达显著减少（t=14.22,P<0.01）,幼稚神经元标志物DCX及新生成熟神经元标志物BrdU/NeuN阳性细胞数均较对照组减少（t=18.77、9.304,P<0.01）。结论 全脑放疗后海马区域的葡萄糖代谢减低,与海马神经元活性下降及神经发生减少相一致,表明¹⁸F-FDG micro-PET可以作为评估放射性认知功能障碍的有效方法。     

Radiosensitivity of C. Parvum-stimulated Spleen to Acute 60Co and Low Dose Rate 137Cs and 252Cf Irradiation

Summary

Stimulation of spleen growth by injection of C. parvum led to rapid organ enlargement, and acute ⁶⁰Co or low dose rate (LDR) ¹³⁷Cs or ²⁵²Cf irradiation reduced the maximum enlargement achieved. Irradiations were carried out 3 days after CP injection. Sigmoid dose–response curves were observed for the fraction of maximum enlargement achieved after acute ⁶⁰Co. After low dose rate ¹³⁷Cs or ²⁵²Cf irradiation, exponential dose-response curves of very different slope were observed. Acute and LDR γ-radiation produced reduced effects in the stimulated and proliferating spleen compared to LDR ²⁵²Cf neutron/γ-irradiation which had relative biological effectiveness = 4·0 versus low dose rate ¹³⁷Cs.     

Apoptotic cell death in erythrocytes of p53-deficient medaka (Oryzias latipes) after γ-irradiation

Purpose: Previous studies have examined the effects of γ-irradiation (γ-IR) on wild-type and p53 mutant Medaka (Oryzias latipes) 24?hours after irradiation and in the present work, apoptosis and alterations in erythrocytes of 4, 8 and 24?h and 14 days after gamma-ray irradiation were reported as genotoxic biomarkers of γ-irradiation.

Materials and methods: Sexually mature wild-type, WT (Hd-rR) and p53(?/?) adult female medaka (O. latipes) were exposed to 4?Gy dose of γ-IR and sampling were collected after 4, 8 and 24?h and 14 days.

Results: Apoptosis and morphological alterations were observed from 4?h after irradiation and remarkably increased 8?h after irradiation in the wild-type. Apoptotic cell death has been observed 8?h after irradiation most prominently but subtle in p53 mutant medaka. All these phenotypes were recovered 14 days after irradiation in both strains. Although no micronuclei were seen in any group, nuclear abnormalities were observed in red blood cells. Both apoptosis and morphological alterations in erythrocytes were decreased after 24 and 14 days after γ-irradiation.

Conclusions: We conclude that apoptosis and malformations caused by 4?Gy γ-irradiation in the erythrocytes of medaka fish occurs from 4–24?h and the initial response until 8?h was p53-dependent.     

Activation of immunological network by chronic low-dose-rate irradiation in wild-type mouse strains: Analysis of immune cell populations and surface molecules

Purpose: To analyse the effects of chronic whole body low-dose-rate irradiation on the immune system in various wild-type mouse strains in comparison with the effects from acute high-dose-rate irradiation.

Materials and methods: Wild-type mouse strains (C57BL/6, BALB/c, C3H/He, DBA/1, DBA/2 and CBA) were observed after chronic low-dose-rate γ irradiation at 1.2 mGy hour^?1 by intensive analysis of immune cell populations and their various surface molecules, together with antibody-producing activity both with and without immunization by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The cell surface functional molecules [cluster of differentiation (CD) 3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD45R/B220, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, Fas, natural killer (NK)-1.1, chemokine {C-X-C motif } receptor 4 (CXCR4) and chemokine {C-C motif } receptor 5 (CCR5)] and activation molecules [thymocyte-activating molecule (THAM), CD28, CD40, CD44H, CD70, B7-1, B7-2, OX-40 antigen, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), CD30 ligand and CD40 ligand] were studied in the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and peripheral blood by flow cytometry.

Results: By chronic low-dose-rate irradiation alone, CD4+ T cells and CD8 molecule expression increased significantly by a maximum of 30%, while CD40+ B cells decreased significantly. Increases of CD4+ T cells, CD40+ B cells and anti-SRBC antibody-producing cells by immunization were significantly enhanced by continuous low-dose-rate irradiation at 1.2 mGy hour^?1. CD3? CD4+ T cells, representative of abnormal immune cells, were absent in the chronically low-dose-rate-irradiated mice, while a dose-dependent increase of these cells was found in acutely high-dose-rate-irradiated mice given the same total doses.

Conclusion: Chronic low-dose-rate radiation activated the immune system of the whole body.     

Low dose radiation induced immunomodulation: Effect on macrophages and CD8+ T cells

Purpose: The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of fractionated whole body low dose ionizing radiation (LDR) on the functional responses of T lymphocytes, their subpopulations and macrophages.

Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 4 cGy from a ⁶⁰Co source, at 0.31 cGy/min, at 24 h intervals for 5 days (total dose 20 cGy). Phagocytic activity was measured by flow cytometry using Bioparticles® and nitric oxide generation was estimated by spectrophotometry. Proliferation of lymphocytes in response to concanavalin A (con A) and alloantigens was measured by ³H thymidine incorporation. Expression of cell surface markers was assessed by flow cytometric analysis of antibody labeled cells. Target cell killing by cytotoxic T cells (CTL) generated against allogenic cells was assessed by flow cytometry using PKH26 labeled target cells. Cytokines were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Exposure to LDR enhanced nitric oxide secretion and phagocytosis. The expression of early activation antigen, CD69, was enhanced in CD8⁺ T lymphocytes concomitant with enhanced proliferation in response to con A. In addition, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and CTL response were augmented and secretion of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) was suppressed following LDR exposure.

Conclusions: LDR exposure enhanced the function of macrophages and responses of CD8⁺ T cells in C57BL/6 mice.     

In Vivo Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Ultraviolet- and Gamma-irradiated Escherichia Coli

Summary

The incorporation of [¹⁴C]adenine into the cyclic AMP fraction by whole cells of Escherichia coli B/r was taken as a measure of the in vivo adenylate cyclase activity. This activity was significantly inhibited by irradiation of the cells either with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays or with UV light from a germicidal lamp, suggesting inhibition of cyclic AMP synthesis. The incubation of cells after irradiation with lower doses (50–100 Gy) of γ-rays produced a significant increase of in vivo adenylate cyclase activity, whereas there was no significant change after higher doses (150 Gy and above). Dark incubation of cells after irradiation with UV light (54 J m^?2) led to recovery of enzyme actvity to the level measured in unirradiated cells. Thus it appears that the catabolite repression of l-arabinose isomerase induced by UV light, as well as γ-irradiation, is due to reduced cyclic AMP synthesis in irradiated cells.     

Post-irradiation viability and cytotoxicity of natural killer cells isolated from human peripheral blood using different methods

Purpose We compared the pre- and post-irradiation viability and cytotoxicity of human peripheral natural killer cell (NK) populations obtained using different isolation methods.

Material and methods Three methods were used to enrich total NK cells from buffy coats: (I) a Ficoll-Paque gradient, plastic adherence and a nylon wool column; (II) a discontinuous Percoll gradient; or (III) the Dynal NK cell isolation kit. Subsequently, CD16⁺ and CD56⁺ NK cell subsets were collected using (IV) flow cytometry or (V) magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) NK cell isolation kits. The yield, viability, purity and cytotoxicity of the NK cell populations were measured using trypan blue exclusion, flow cytometry using propidium iodide and ⁵¹Cr release assays after enrichments as well as viability and cytotoxicity after a single radiation dose.

Results The purity of the preparations, as measured by the CD16⁺ and CD56⁺ cell content, was equally good between methods I–III (p?=?0.323), but the content of CD16⁺ and CD56⁺ cells using these methods was significantly lower than that using methods IV and V (p?=?0.005). The viability of the cell population enriched via flow cytometry (85.5%) was significantly lower than that enriched via other methods (99.4–98.0%, p?=?0.003). The cytotoxicity of NK cells enriched using methods I–III was significantly higher than that of NK cells enriched using methods IV and V (p?=?0.000). In vitro the NK cells did not recover cytotoxic activity following irradiation. In addition, we detected considerable inter-individual variation in yield, cytotoxicity and radiation sensitivity between the NK cells collected from different human donors.

Conclusions The selection of the appropriate NK cell enrichment method is very important for NK cell irradiation studies. According to our results, the Dynal and MACS NK isolation kits best retained the killing capacity and the viability of irradiated NK cells.     

Magnitude of radiation-induced DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes and its correlation with aggressiveness of thymic lymphoma in Swiss mice

Abstract

Purpose: The present study is aimed to investigate the magnitude and kinetics of DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes of mice exposed to whole body gamma irradiation (WBI; 3 Gy) and its correlation with aggressiveness of thymic lymphoma (TL).

Materials and methods: DNA damage was monitored in peripheral blood cells of individual mice by comet assay at different intervals of post-irradiation, which were correlated with weight of TL in respective mice at 120th day. To further study genomic radiosensitivity in TL development, peripheral blood samples collected at the 15th and 90th day of post-irradiation from control and WBI animals were irradiated (0.5 Gy) ex vivo followed by assessment of DNA damage by comet assay.

Results: The maximum DNA damage (tail moment) was observed at 5 min after WBI, which decreased at longer period, and was minimum at the 7th day after WBI. However, residual damage was observed in comparison to control and it persisted up to 90 days of irradiation. Tail moment values observed at an early time (5 min) of post-irradiation was better correlated (correlation coefficient, r = 0.84) with weight of TL than at longer time period (60 days; r = 0.21). Our results showed that in ex vivo irradiated (0.5 Gy) peripheral blood, the magnitude of DNA damage was higher in samples obtained from WBI mice than sham-irradiated controls suggesting enhanced genomic radiosensitivity in WBI mice. Genomic susceptibility to radiation observed in peripheral blood from WBI animals showed better correlation with weight of TL at the 15th day (r = 0.9) post-irradiation period than at the 90th day (r = 0.44).

Conclusion: These results suggest that the magnitude of radiation-induced initial DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes and genomic radiosensitivity could be an indicator of TL aggressiveness in mice.     

电离辐射对小鼠胸腺Th17细胞相关细胞因子的影响

目的 通过研究电离辐射对小鼠胸腺Th17细胞相关细胞因子的影响,探讨高、低剂量辐射诱导不同的免疫效应中Th17细胞功能。方法 将健康ICR小鼠按随机数字表法分为健康对照组、低剂量照射组(0.05、0.075 Gy)和高剂量照射组(0.5、1.0、2.0、4.0 Gy)探讨剂量-效应关系,用X射线深部治疗机进行不同剂量的全身照射,于照射后24 h处死。同时,探讨时间-效应关系,即分为健康对照组、低剂量照射组(0.075 Gy)和高剂量照射组(2.0 Gy),于照射后12、24、48 h处死,取胸腺组织制备成组织匀浆,ELISA法检测小鼠胸腺细胞中白介素-17a(IL-17a)与白介素-21(IL-21)的浓度。结果 在时间-效应结果中,与健康对照组相比,0.075 Gy照射组胸腺细胞IL-17a和IL-21分泌量呈下降趋势,其分泌量于48 h降到最低(t=3.85、4.73,P<0.05);而2.0 Gy照射组均呈大幅度上升趋势,其分泌量在48 h达到最高(t=-6.74、-6.19,P<0.05);在剂量-效应结果中,与健康对照组相比,较低剂量照射组胸腺细胞IL-17a与IL-21分泌量下降,在0.05 Gy最低(t=8.39、16.45,P<0.05);较高剂量照射组胸腺细胞的分泌量上升,在4.0 Gy时升至最高(t=-15.60、-18.62,P<0.05)。结论 高剂量辐射可以诱导小鼠胸腺细胞IL-17a与IL-21分泌量的增加,而低剂量辐射使其下降,表明Th17细胞相关的细胞因子在低剂量辐射诱导的免疫功能增强效应和高剂量辐射诱导免疫抑制效应中起着重要的作用。     

Treatment of Radioresistant Cancers–Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Prospects for Treatment of Radioresistant Cancers Held in Kyto (Japan), May 21st 1979

Summary

Using autoradiographic methods it was noted that S phase cells at the bottom of the crypts in the small intestine were the most efficient scavengers of exogenous injected thymidine. The efficiency of the incorporation of ³H-TdR (salvage pathway of DNA synthesis) by cells at the crypt base (stem cell zone) was twice as high as for the S phase cells at the top of the crypt (maturing proliferative cells). There were no such position-dependent differences in incorporation of ³H-UdR (de novo pathway of DNA synthesis). Radiation (0·75–5·0 Gy ¹³⁷Cs γ-rays) inhibited the incorporation of ³H-TdR very rapidly and this was also cell-position dependent. The cells at the bottom of the crypt were the most affected. The injection of cold thymidine before ³H-TdR changed the pattern of the incorporation of ³H-TdR along the side of the crypt in a very similar way to radiation, and the grain number was decreased predominantly in the cells at lower positions.

The possibility of the existence of a regional gradient of endogenous thymidine (reutilization from intestinal sources), and the influence of irradiation on the gradient of thymidine incorporation resulting from direct and abscopal effects of whole body exposure, are discussed.     

Numerical chromosome abnormalities in 8-cell embryos generated from γ-irradiated male mice in the absence and presence of vitamin E

Purpose:?To investigate the effects of γ-rays on male NMRI mice, in the absence or presence of vitamin E, on abnormalities in chromosome number in 8-cell embryos generated after mating with non-irradiated female mice.

Materials and methods:?The 8 – 11 week old male NMRI mice were irradiated whole body with 4 Gy of γ-rays alone or in combination with 200 international units (IU)/kg vitamin E administered 1 h prior to irradiation. After 4 days, they were mated at weekly intervals with superovulated, non-irradiated female mice in successive 6 weekly periods. About 68 h post coitous (p.c.), 8-cell embryos were fixed on slides using standard methods in order to screen for abnormalities in chromosome number.

Results:?In control embryos, 8% of metaphases were aneuploid whereas in embryos generated from irradiated mice, the frequency of aneuploidy increased dramatically at all post irradiation sampling times (p < 0.001). Administration of vitamin E one hour before irradiation, significantly decreased chromosomal aberrations in all 6 groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:?Data indicate that γ-irradiation affects spermatogenesis and causes DNA alterations in sperm that may lead to chromosome abnormalities in subsequent embryos. Administration of vitamin E before irradiation effectively reduced the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities. The mechanism(s) by which vitamin E reduces genotoxic effects of radiation could be via radical scavenging or antioxidative effects.