title: Past exposure to densely ionizing radiation leaves a unique permanent signature in the genome.
abstract: Speculation has long surrounded the question of whether past exposure to ionizing radiation leaves a unique permanent signature in the genome. Intrachromosomal rearrangements or deletions are produced much more efficiently by densely ionizing radiation than by chemical mutagens, x-rays, or endogenous aging processes. Until recently, such stable intrachromosomal aberrations have been very hard to detect, but a new chromosome band painting technique has made their detection practical. We report the detection and quantification of stable intrachromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of healthy former nuclear-weapons workers who were exposed to plutonium many years ago. Even many years after occupational exposure, more than half the blood cells of the healthy plutonium workers contain large (>6 Mb) intrachromosomal rearrangements. The yield of these aberrations was highly correlated with plutonium dose to the bone marrow. The control groups contained very few such intrachromosomal aberrations. Quantification of this large-scale chromosomal damage in human populations exposed many years earlier will lead to new insights into the mechanisms and risks of cytogenetic damage.
authors.affiliation: Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: M Prakash
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hande
authors.forename: Tamara V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Azizova
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Geard
authors.forename: Ludmilla E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Burak
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Valentin F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Khokhryakov
authors.forename: Evgeny K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Vasilenko
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000528:radiation effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D020223:Chromosome Painting; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000009:adverse effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012016:Reference Values; D012426:Russia; D013995:Time; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014586:USSR
chemical_list: D011005:Plutonium