Plasma Proteins As Biodosimetric Markers of Low-Dose Radiation in Mice

Changhui Ge; Yanjie Liang; Yaocang Zhang; Fei Su; Lu Chen; Feiyue Ma; Kexin Ding; Jie Zhu; Xiaofei Zheng; Hanjiang Fu

doi:10.1177/15593258211016257

Plasma Proteins As Biodosimetric Markers of Low-Dose Radiation in Mice

Dose Response. 2021 May 10;19(2):15593258211016257. doi: 10.1177/15593258211016257. eCollection 2021 Apr-Jun.

Authors

Changhui Ge^{1

2}, Yanjie Liang^{1

3}, Yaocang Zhang^{1

2}, Fei Su¹, Lu Chen¹, Feiyue Ma^{1

4}, Kexin Ding¹, Jie Zhu¹, Xiaofei Zheng^{1

4}, Hanjiang Fu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Radiobiology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China.
² Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
³ Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁴ College of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Heibei University, Baoding, China.

Abstract

Long-term exposures to low-dose radiation (LDR) may trigger several specific biological responses, including dysregulation of the immune and inflammatory systems. Here, we examined whether biodosimetry of LDR can be used to protect tissues from radiation or assess cancer risk. Mice were subjected to gamma-irradiation with repeated or single-dose LDR, and then the organ indices, peripheral hemogram, and blood biochemistry were analyzed. An antibody array was applied followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the utility of multiple plasma proteins as biomarkers of repeated LDR in a murine model. LDR induced inapparent symptoms but slight variations in peripheral blood cell counts and alterations in blood biochemical indicator levels. Specific plasma proteins in the LDR groups were altered in response to a higher dose of irradiation at the same time points or a single-dose equivalent to the same total dose. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12p40, P-selectin, and serum amyloid A1 were associated with the LDR dose and thus may be useful as dosimetric predictors of LDR in mice. Estimating the levels of certain plasma proteins may yield promising biodosimetry parameters to accurately identify individuals exposed to LDR, facilitating risk assessment of long-term LDR exposure in individuals.

Keywords: biodosimetry; biomarkers; low-dose radiation; plasma protein.