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At least 73 records · Page 4

Different mechanisms of radiation-induced loss of heterozygosity in two human lymphoid cell lines from a single donor

Allelic loss is an important mutational mechanism in human carcinogenesis. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at an autosomal locus is one outcome of the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and can occur by deletion or by mitotic recombination. We report that mitotic recombination between homologous chromosomes occurred in human lymphoid cells exposed to densely ionizing radiation. We used cells derived from the same donor that express either normal TP53 (TK6 cells) or homozygous mutant TP53 (WTK1 cells) to assess the influence of TP53 on radiation-induced mutagenesis. Expression of mutant TP53 (Met 237 Ile) was associated with a small increase in mutation frequencies at the hemizygous HPRT (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase) locus, but the mutation spectra were unaffected at this locus. In contrast, WTK1 cells (mutant TP53) were 30-fold more susceptible than TK6 cells (wild-type TP53) to radiation-induced mutagenesis at the TK1 (thymidine kinase) locus. Gene dosage analysis combined with microsatellite marker analysis showed that the increase in TK1 mutagenesis in WTK1 cells could be attributed, in part, to mitotic recombination. The microsatellite marker analysis over a 64-cM region on chromosome 17q indicated that the recombinational events could initiate at different positions between the TK1 locus and the centromere. Virtually all of the recombinational LOH events extended beyond the TK1 locus to the most telomeric marker. In general, longer LOH tracts were observed in mutants from WTK1 cells than in mutants from TK6 cells. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the incidence of radi-ation-induced mutations is dependent on the genetic background of the cell at risk, on the locus examined, and on the mechanisms for mutation available at the locus of interest.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

A model for interphase chromosomes and evaluation of radiation-induced aberrations

We have developed a theoretical model for evaluating radiation-induced chromosomal exchanges by explicitly taking into account interphase (G(0)/G(1)) chromosome structure, nuclear organization of chromosomes, the production of double-strand breaks (DSBs), and the subsequent rejoinings in a faithful or unfaithful manner. Each of the 46 chromosomes for human lymphocytes (40 chromosomes for mouse lymphocytes) is modeled as a random polymer inside a spherical volume. The chromosome spheres are packed randomly inside a spherical nucleus with an allowed overlap controlled by a parameter Omega. The rejoining of DSBs is determined by a Monte Carlo procedure using a Gaussian proximity function with an interaction range parameter sigma. Values of Omega and sigma have been found which yield calculated results of interchromosomal aberration frequencies that agree with a wide range of experimental data. Our preferred solution is one with an interaction range of 0.5 microm coupled with a relatively small overlap parameter of 0.675 microm, which more or less confirms previous estimates. We have used our model with these parameter values and with resolution or detectability limits to calculate yields of translocations and dicentrics for human lymphocytes exposed to low-LET radiation that agree with experiments in the dose range 0.09 to 4 Gy. Five different experimental data sets have been compared with the theoretical results. Essentially all of the experimental data fall between theoretical curves corresponding to resolution limits of 1 Mbp and 20 Mbp, which may reflect the fact that different investigators use different limits for sensitivity or detectability. Translocation yields for mouse lymphocytes have also been calculated and are in good agreement with experimental data from 1 cGy to 10 cGy. There is also good agreement with recent data on complex aberrations. Our model is expected to be applicable to both low- and high-LET radiation, and we include a sample prediction of the yield of interchromosomal rejoining in the dose range 0.22 Gy to 2 Gy of 1000 MeV/nucleon iron particles. This dose range corresponds to average particle traversals per nucleus ranging from 1.0 to 9.12.

Non-NASA Center↗

Effect of laser frequency on a collision-induced radiative process

A review is presented of the principles of collision induced radiative processes, followed by an examination of the effects of laser frequencies on these processes. A one-dimensional problem involving two electron states is considered, and it is found that the Hamiltonian of the radiation field is dominated by electric-dipole interaction which couples states of different parity. Transitions are noted to be dependent on collisions, and the complexities of three-dimensional systems are expressed as considerations of the angular momentum of the photon, the necessity of treating different states simultaneously, and the fact that a radiation field destroys rotational invariance. Changing the radiation frequency alters the crossing point and offers opportunities to study the interplay of potential surfaces with molecular dynamics. Experiments on Na+A systems are outlined for several collision energies and various laser frequencies. Multiple crossings were obtained, although the total cross-section, at all energies, decreased at 18,350/cm.

Devries, P. L.↗

Space Radiation Induces Long Term Impact on the Cardiovascular System by the Activation of FYN Through Reactive Oxygen Species

Space radiation can damage the cardiovascular system and thus is an important health risk factor for astronauts during long-term space missions. We utilized publicly available transcriptomic data through NASA's GeneLab platform (genelab.nasa.gov) to determine cardiovascular system response to space radiation. GeneLab is an open repository that houses all NASA related omics experiments including on the International Space Station (ISS) and related radiation ground studies. We analyzed 3 datasets from GeneLab: GLDS-117 and GLDS-109, which are ground studies of cardiomyocytes followed-up for 28 days after exposure to 90cGy of proton at 1GeV and 15cGy of 56Fe at 1GeV; and GLDS-52, human endothelial cells (HUVECs) that were cultured for 10 days on the ISS. The ground studies were designed to characterize the long-term impact following space irradiation on cardiomyocytes for 5 different time points up to 28 days after irradiation. Our analysis was guided by the hypothesis that there are common persistent molecules affecting the cardiovascular system due to radiation effects during spaceflight. Endothelial cells are known to directly regulate the development and activity of cardiomyocytes, and thus their response to spaceflight should be highly correlated with cardiomyocytes. To investigate our hypothesis, we identified the molecular pathways that were modified for all time points compared across both radiation on the ground and the pathways found in HUVECs flown in the ISS. We found the following key results related to the cardiovascular systems: 1) space radiation downregulate ROS functions; and 2) the key/driving genes: FYN, LCK, AKT1 are upregulated and LYN and FOS are downregulated with FYN being the central driver/hub for the cardiovascular response to space radiation. It is worth noting the activation of FYN is a key event which prevents cardiac cell death and ROS production. From our study we thus hypothesize that a feedback loop occurs from the oxidative stress caused by space radiation that upregulates FYN which in turn reduces ROS levels and thus ROS pathways, preventing cardiomyocyte and endothelial cell death and thus protecting the cardiovascular systems. We believe that this is a novel mechanism for space radiation induced cardiovascular risk directly linking radiation ground studies to spaceflight

Beheshti, Afshin↗

Bystander effects in radiation-induced genomic instability

Exposure of GM10115 hamster-human hybrid cells to X-rays can result in the induction of chromosomal instability in the progeny of surviving cells. This instability manifests as the dynamic production of novel sub-populations of cells with unique cytogenetic rearrangements involving the "marker" human chromosome. We have used the comet assay to investigate whether there was an elevated level of endogenous DNA breaks in chromosomally unstable clones that could provide a source for the chromosomal rearrangements and thus account for the persistent instability observed. Our results indicate no significant difference in comet tail measurement between non-irradiated and radiation-induced chromosomally unstable clones. Using two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization we also investigated whether recombinational events involving the interstitial telomere repeat-like sequences in GM10115 cells were involved at frequencies higher than random processes would otherwise predict. Nine of 11 clones demonstrated a significantly higher than expected involvement of these interstitial telomere repeat-like sequences at the recombination junction between the human and hamster chromosomes. Since elevated levels of endogenous breaks were not detected in unstable clones we propose that epigenetic or bystander effects (BSEs) lead to the activation of recombinational pathways that perpetuate the unstable phenotype. Specifically, we expand upon the hypothesis that radiation induces conditions and/or factors that stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These reactive intermediates then contribute to a chronic pro-oxidant environment that cycles over multiple generations, promoting chromosomal recombination and other phenotypes associated with genomic instability.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Space-radiation-induced Photon Luminescence of the Moon

We report on the results of a study of the photon luminescence of the Moon induced by Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and space radiation from the Sun, using the Monte Carlo program FLUKA. The model of the lunar surface is taken to be the chemical composition of soils found at various landing sites during the Apollo and Luna programs, averaged over all such sites to define a generic regolith for the present analysis. This then becomes the target that is bombarded by Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) above 1 keV in FLUKA to determine the photon fluence albedo produced by the Moon's surface when there is no sunlight and Earthshine. This is to be distinguished from the gamma-ray spectrum produced by the radioactive decay of radiogenic constituents lying in the surface and interior of the Moon. From the photon fluence we derive the spectrum which can be utilized to examine existing lunar spectral data and to design orbiting instrumentation for measuring various components of the space-radiation-induced photon luminescence present on the Moon.

Wilson, Thomas↗

Acoustic radiation-induced static strains in solids

The controversy surrounding the magnitude of the radiation-induced static strain accompanying acoustic wave propagation in solids is resolved by a consideration of the associated Boussinesq radiation stress. Experimental verification of the results is presented for waves propagating along the pure mode directions of crystalline silicon.

Cantrell, John H.↗

Theory of Radiation-Induced Attenuation in Optical Fibers

A new mathematical model for describing radiation-induced attenuation in optical fibers ispresented. Unlike the existing empirical power law, the new expression is dose- rate dependent andcan be used to predict low-dose-rate induced fiber loss occurring in space from the normally high-dose-rate results obtained in a ground-based laboratory. The new theory is in good agreement withthe experiment.

Liu, Duncan T. H.↗

HZE particle radiation induces tissue-specific and p53-dependent mutagenesis in transgenic animals

Transgenic animals, with the integrated target gene, provide a unique approach for measuring and characterizing mutations in any tissue of the animal. We are using the plasmid-based lacZ transgenic mice with different p53 genetic background to examine radiation-induced genetic damage resulting from exposure to heavy particle radiation. We measured lacZ mutation frequencies (MF) in the brain and spleen tissues at various times after exposing animals to an acute dose of 1 Gy of 1GeV/amu iron particles. MF in the spleen of p53+/+ animals increased up to 2.6-fold above spontaneous levels at 8 weeks post irradiation. In contrast, brain MF from the same animals increased 1.7-fold above controls in the same period. In the p53-/- animals, brain MF increased to 2.2-fold above spontaneous levels at 1 week after treatment, but returned to control levels thereafter. Radiation also induced alterations in the spectrum of mutants in both tissues, accompanied by changes in the frequency of mutants with deletions extending past the transgene into mouse genomic DNA. Our results indicate that the accumulation of transgene MF after radiation exposure is dependant on the tissue examined as well as the p53 genetic background of the animals.

Non-NASA Center↗

Study of radiation induced deep-level defects in proton irradiated AlGaAs-GaAs solar cells

Radiation induced deep-level defects (both electron and hole traps) in proton irradiated AlGaAs-GaAs p-n junction solar cells are investigated along with the correlation between the measured defect parameters and the solar cell performance parameters. The range of proton energies studied was from 50 KeV to 10 MeV and the proton fluence was varied from 10 to the 10th power to 10 to the 13th power P/sq cm. Experimental tools employed include deep-level transient spectroscopy, capacitance-voltage, current voltage, and SEM-EBIC methods. Defect and recombination parameters such as defect density and energy level, capture cross section, carrier lifetimes and effective hole diffusion lengths in n-GaAs LPE layers were determined from these measurements.

Li, S. S.↗

Simulating and Detecting Radiation-Induced Errors for Onboard Machine Learning

Spacecraft processors and memory are subjected to high radiation doses and therefore employ radiation-hardened components. However, these components are orders of magnitude more expensive than typical desktop components, and they lag years behind in terms of speed and size. We have integrated algorithm-based fault tolerance (ABFT) methods into onboard data analysis algorithms to detect radiation-induced errors, which ultimately may permit the use of spacecraft memory that need not be fully hardened, reducing cost and increasing capability at the same time. We have also developed a lightweight software radiation simulator, BITFLIPS, that permits evaluation of error detection strategies in a controlled fashion, including the specification of the radiation rate and selective exposure of individual data structures. Using BITFLIPS, we evaluated our error detection methods when using a support vector machine to analyze data collected by the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. We found ABFT error detection for matrix multiplication is very successful, while error detection for Gaussian kernel computation still has room for improvement.

data analysis↗

Chemoprevention of Radiation Induced Rat Mammary Neoplasms

Radiations encountered in space include protons and heavy ions such as iron as well as their secondaries. The relative biological effect (RBE) of these ions is not known, particularly at the doses and dose-rates expected for planetary missions. Neutrons, are not particularly relevant to space travel, but have been found experimentally to have an increase in their RBE with decreasing dose. If a similar trend of increasing RBE with decreasing dose is present for heavy ions and protons during irradiation in space, the small doses received during space travel could potentially have substantial carcinogenic risk. Clearly more investigation of the effects of heavy ions and protons is needed before accurate risk assessment for prolonged travel in space can be done. One means to mitigate the increased risk of cancer due to radiation exposure in space is by developing effective countermeasures that can reduce the incidence of tumor development. Tamoxifen has recently been shown to be an effective chemopreventive agent in both animal models and humans for the prevention of mammary tumors. Tamoxifen is a unique drug, with a highly specific mechanism of action affecting a specific radiation-sensitive population of epithelial cells in the mammary gland. In human studies, the annual incidence of a primary tumor in the contralateral breast of women with previous breast cancer is about 8 per 1000, making them an exceedingly high-risk group for the development of breast cancer. In this high risk group, treated with tamoxifen, daily, for 2 years, the incidence of a new primary tumor in the contralateral breast was approximately one third of that noted in the non-tamoxifen treatment group. Tamoxifen antagonizes the action of estrogen by competing for the nuclear receptor complex thereby altering the association of the receptor complex and nuclear binding sites. Its effects in reducing the development of breast cancer could be accomplished by controlling clinically undetectable microcancers, arresting preneoplastic lesions, or correcting abnormal environments which predispose to high risk of malignant transformation.

Huso, David L.↗

Modelling and Holographic Visualization of Space Radiation-Induced DNA Damage

Space radiation is composed by a mixture of ions of different energies. Among these, heavy inos are of particular importance because their health effects are poorly understood. In. the recent years, a software named RITRACKS (Relativistic Ion Tracks) was developed to simulate the detailed radiation track structure, several DNA models and DNA damage. As the DNA structure is complex due to packing, it is difficult to the damage using a regular computer screen.

Plante, Ianik↗

Plausible Biological Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Radiation-Induced Lung Cancer Risk

Some epidemiological studies suggest that women are at greater risk for radiation-induced lung cancer than men, but this observation is not consistent across all studies. A scientific committee formed by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement evaluated evidence for a sex difference in lung cancer risk from radiation exposuresby reviewing animal studies and assessing the biological plausibility that such a difference might exist. The committee identified four mechanisms that could potentially result in greater radiogenic lung cancer risks for women. The first of these is that radiation exposure increases the relative risk for a molecular subtype of spontaneous lung cancer that occurs predominantly in women. The second is that is that sex chromosome or gene expression differences between men and women places women at greater risk. The third is that hormonal differences between men and women, particularly for estrogen levels, puts women at greater risk. The fourth mechanism is that sex differences in immune system function underlie a sex difference in radiation associated lung cancer risk.None of these mechanisms hasyet been proven to play a role in radiogenic lung cancer risk.

radiation↗

DLTS analysis of radiation-induced defects in one-MeV electron irradiated germanium and Alsub0.17Gasub0.83As solar cells

The radiation-induced deep-level defects in one-MeV electron-irradiated germanium and AlxGal-xAs solar cell materials using the deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and C-V techniques were investigated. Defect and recombination parameters such as defect density and energy levels, capture cross sections and lifetimes for both electron and hole traps were determined. The germanium and AlGaAs p/n junction cells were irradiated by one-MeV electrons. The DLTS, I-V, and C-V measurements were performed on these cells. The results are summarized as follows: (1) for the irradiated germanium samples, the dominant electron trap was due to the E sub - 0.24 eV level with density around 4x10 to the 14th power 1/cu cm, independent of electron fluence, its origin is attributed to the vacancy-donor complex defect formed during the electron irradiation; (2) in the one-MeV electron irradiated Al0.17Ga0.83 as sample, two dominant electron traps with energies of Ec-0.19 and -0.29 eV were observed, the density for both electron traps remained nearly constant, independent of electron fluence. It is shown that one-MeV electron irradiation creates very few or no new deep-level traps in both the germanium and AlxGa1-xAs cells, and are suitable for fabricating the radiation-hard high efficiency multijunction solar cells for space applications.

Li, S. B.↗