Inter-chromosomal variation in aberration frequencies in human lymphocytes exposed to charged particles of LET between 0.5 and 55 keV/μm

What radiation dose does the FISH translocation assay measure in cases of incorporated radionuclides for the Southern Urals populations?

The fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) technique is now well established for retrospective dosimetry in cases of external radiation exposure that occurred many years ago. However, the question remains as to whether FISH provides valid estimates of cumulative red bone marrow radiation doses in cases of incorporation of radionuclides or combined external and internal exposures. This question has arisen in connection with the interpretation of results of dose assessments for epidemiological studies of plutonium workers at the Russian Mayak plant and of members of the public exposed to strontium radioisotopes and external radiation as a result of discharges from Mayak to the Techa River. Exposures to penetrating external radiation result in fairly uniform irradiation of body tissues, and hence similar doses to all tissues, for which FISH dosimetry can provide a reliable measure of this whole body dose. However, intakes of radionuclides into the body by inhalation or ingestion may result in retention in specific organs and tissues, so that the distribution of dose is highly heterogeneous. For radionuclides emitting short-range radiations (e.g. alpha particles), this heterogeneity can apply to dose delivery within tissues and between cells within tissues. In this paper, an attempt is made to address the question of what FISH measures in such circumstances by considering evidence regarding the origin and lifetime dynamics of lymphocyte subsets in the human body in relation to the localised delivery of dose from the internal emitters (90)Sr and (239)Pu, which are of particular interest for the Southern Urals Mayak and Techa River populations, and for which most evidence is available in these populations. It is concluded that the FISH translocation assay can be usefully applied for detecting internal and combined external gamma and internal doses from internally deposited (90)Sr, albeit with fairly large uncertainties. The same may be true of (239)Pu, as well as other radionuclides, although much work remains to be done to establish dose-response relationships.

Mutations and chromosomal aberrations in hMTH1-transfected and non-transfected TK6 cells after exposure to low dose rates of gamma radiation

The aim of the present study was to analyse the dose rate effect of gamma radiation at the level of mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and cell growth in TK6 cells with normal as well as reduced levels of hMTH1 protein. TK6 cells were exposed to gamma radiation at dose rates ranging from 1.4 to 30.0 mGy/h (chronic exposure) as well as 24 Gy/h (acute exposure). Cell growth, frequency of thymidine kinase mutants, and of chromosomal aberrations in painted chromosomes 2, 8, and 14 were analysed. A decline in cell growth and an increase in unstable-type chromosomal aberrations with increasing dose rate were observed in both cell lines. A dose rate effect was not seen on mutations or stable-type chromosomal aberrations in any of the two cell lines. Reduction in the hMTH1 protein does not influence the sensitivity of TK6 cells to gamma radiation. This result fits well with data of others generated with the same cell line.

Complex aberrations in lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of (241)Am alpha particles and X-rays

Modern radiotherapy treatment modalities are associated with undesired out-of-field exposure to complex mixed beams of high and low energy transfer (LET) radiation that can give rise to secondary cancers. The biological effectiveness of mixed beams is not known. The aim of the investigation was the analysis of chromosomal damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) exposed to a mixed beam of X-rays and alpha particles. Using a dedicated exposure facility PBL were exposed to increasing doses of alpha particles (from (241)Am), X-rays and a mixture of both. Chromosomal aberrations were analysed in chromosomes 2, 8 and 14 using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The found and expected frequencies of simple and complex aberrations were compared. Simple aberrations showed linear dose-response relationships with doses. A higher than expected frequency of simple aberrations was only observed after the highest mixed beam dose. A linear-quadratic dose response curve for complex aberrations was observed after mixed-beam exposure. Higher than expected frequencies of complex aberrations were observed for the two highest doses. Both the linear-quadratic dose-response relationship and the calculation of expected frequencies show that exposure of PBL to mixed beams of high and low LET radiation leads to a higher than expected frequency of complex-type aberrations. Because chromosomal changes are associated with cancer induction this result may imply that the cancer risk of exposure to mixed beams in radiation oncology may be higher than expected based on the additive action of the individual dose components.

Individual variations in the micronucleus assay for biological dosimetry after high dose exposure

The micronucleus assay is widely used as a biological dosimeter. Due to an inhibitory effect of radiation on cell proliferation the assay yields satisfactory results only when the absorbed dose is below about 5Gy. In 2002 Müller and Rode suggested that a modified version of the test, based on the analysis of the ratio of trinucleated to tetranucleated cells and the frequency of micronuclei (Mn) in binucleated cells containing at least one Mn, can be applied to detect a dose reaching 15Gy (Mutat. Res. 502 (2002) 47-51). Their conclusion was based on the results of experiments with lymphocytes from one donor and nothing is known about the possible influence of individual variability on the applicability of the Mn test to detect high doses of radiation. The aim of the present study was to validate the modified micronucleus assay with lymphocytes of 5 donors. Their blood was exposed to 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20Gy of (60)Co gamma rays. The levels of Mn and of cell proliferation were assessed using various approaches. A strong inter-individual variability was observed for all endpoints. The results clearly show that the assessment of cell proliferation is essential for the interpretation of results. Unfortunately, it was not possible to identify one single proliferation marker that gives all necessary information.

Micronuclei in human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of X-rays and alpha particles

The purpose of this study was to analyse the cytogenetic effect of exposing human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to a mixed beam of alpha particles and X-rays. Whole blood collected from one donor was exposed to different doses of alpha particles ((241)Am), X-rays and a combination of both. All exposures were carried out at 37 °C. Three independent experiments were performed. Micronuclei (MN) in binucleated PBL were scored as the endpoint. Moreover, the size of MN was measured. The results show that exposure of PBL to a mixed beam of high and low linear energy transfer radiation led to significantly higher than expected frequencies of MN. The measurement of MN size did not reveal any differences between the effect of alpha particles and mixed beam. In conclusion, a combined exposure of PBL to alpha particles and X-rays leads to a synergistic effect as measured by the frequency of MN. From the analysis of MN distributions, we conclude that the increase was due to an impaired repair of X-ray-induced DNA damage.