Concerns for high-dose ionizing radiation exposure have been growing since past radiation events and the global push for clean nuclear energy. Ionizing radiation harms living tissue by causing DNA double-strand breaks or generating free radicals and reactive oxygen species. However, accurate radiation dose assessment in individuals developing acute radiation syndrome is currently impossible, which complicates treatment. Efforts are therefore being made to identify biomarkers for diagnostics, prognostics and pharmacodynamics. In a study in Scientific Reports, 14 rhesus macaques were exposed to a lethal dose of total-body ionizing radiation of 7.2Gy and plasma samples were collected at various times pre- and post-irradiation. Results showed dynamic proteomic expression changes from acute to late post-irradiation phases, with the preterminal phase showing proteomic changes linked to inflammation, hemostasis, and cellular integrity. These findings could help better understand how radiation injury progresses and facilitate the identification of future therapeutic targets for mitigating radiation damage.
Original reference: Carpenter, A.D. et al. Sci. Rep. 14, 13571 (2024)
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