Bio-markers for low dose radiation-induced delayed health effects: oncogenes and growth factors

The pathophysiological and delayed health effects of high dose radiation exposures have been well documented while the molecular pathways leading to late effects are currently being studied. The discovery that specific genes and their encoded products are involved in those pathways, may provide new targets for intervention. Several molecular 'bio-markers' already identified include specific oncogenes, transcription factors, cytokines, and growth factors. In contrast, delayed health effects due to low dose radiation exposures have not been well characterized and it is unknown if molecular pathways similar to those implicated in cellular response to high dose radiation are involved. We initiated a study to identify molecular bio-markers involved in cellular response to low dose radiation. Using the same in vivo model which previously demonstrated a correlation between radiation injury induced by low dose 60Co and the development of neoplastic disease, our laboratory began a study to determine if exposure to fractionated low-dose gamma radiation in rodents activated the expression of specific oncogene/proto-oncogenes; specifically, genes that are associated with the initiation of neoplastic growth in specific organs, e.g. lung. Results with the in vivo model demonstrated that repeated exposure to 60Co gamma radiation (25 cGy/week/8 weeks) of B6CF1 mice resulted in the activation of specific oncogenes associated with the initiation of neoplastic growth. Northern analysis of animal tissues demonstrated that ras, myc, bcl2, and fos were elevated in both lung and liver tissues 232 days following the radiation regimen. In contrast, lung tissues from animals not exposed to radiation demonstrated only a slight elevation in myc expression; no changes in other oncogenes were detected. (authors)