Identification of Potential Biomarkers of Radiation Exposure in Blood Cells by Capillary Electrophoresis Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Biodosimetry is a useful method for estimating personal exposure doses to ionizing radiation. Studies have identified metabolites in non-cellular biofluids that can be used as markers in biodosimetry. Levels of metabolites in blood cells may reflect health status or environmental stresses differentially. Here, we report changes in the levels of murine blood cell metabolites following exposure to X-rays in vivo. Levels of blood cell metabolites were measured by capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The levels of 100 metabolites were altered substantially following exposure. We identified 2-aminobutyric acid, 2′-deoxycytidine, and choline as potentially useful markers of radiation exposure and established a potential prediction panel of the exposure dose using stepwise regression. Levels of blood cell metabolites may be useful biomarkers in estimating exposure doses during unexpected radiation incidents.

Neurobehavioral effects of acute low-dose whole-body irradiation

“…In this study it is evident that neurotransmitters like 5-HT, dopamine and GABA are significantly altered after irradiation. These results, coupled with an earlier study conducted by our research group in which we discovered that radiation significantly altered the neurotransmitters related metabolites [ 32 ], strongly suggest that the neurotransmitters play a significant role in the mechanism of low-dose radiation-induced cognitive deterioration.…”

Metabolomics in Radiation Biodosimetry: Current Approaches and Advances

“…Aspartic acid, urea, and creatinine metabolism and neurotransmitter-related metabolites (aspartic acid, tyrosine, choline, homovanillic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid) decreased after exposure. In addition, 2 -aminobutyric acid, 2 -deoxycytidine, and choline were also identified as potential biomarkers of ionizing radiation [172]. When compared to other studies, a recent NHP study also detected decreased levels of aspartic acid, glycine, and tyrosine, but other levels showed the opposite response [127].…”

Effective Risk Communications through Personalized Consultations with Pregnant Women and Parents by Radiologic Technologists after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

“…On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami occurred, during which a large tsunami damaged the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) . As a result of the damage, large amounts of radioactive isotopes were released from the damaged reactors at the FDNPP (Suzuki et al 2019;Sun L et al 2020;Sun L et al 2021). As a result, radioactive nuclides were widely deposited on the ground not only in Fukushima but also from northern Japan to eastern Japan outside of Fukushima (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2013).…”

“…They must obtain specialized education-such as radiography, anatomy, physiology, radiation physics, radiation protection, radiation therapy, psychology, and ethics-and pass a national examination to receive a license to practice as radiologic technologists. They also consider radiation exposure of patients and staff (Nemoto & Chida 2020;Kato et al 2017;Haga et al 2020;Morishima et al 2018;Chida et al 2010), perform radiation management work Inaba et al 2020), and are responded to the patients' anxieties on radiation exposure in the medical field. Therefore, we think that radiologic technologists can respond to residents' anxieties in nuclear disaster.…”