title: Chromosome aberrations induced by high-LET radiations.
abstract: Measurements of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes are currently the most sensitive and reliable indicator of radiation exposure that can be used for biological dosimetry. This technique has been implemented recently to study radiation exposures incurred by astronauts during space flight, where a significant proportion of the dose is delivered by high-LET particle exposure. Traditional methods for the assessing of cytogenetic damage in mitotic cells collected at one time point after exposure may not be suitable for measuring high-LET radiation effects due to the drastic cell cycle perturbations and interphase cell death induced by this type of exposure. In this manuscript we review the recent advances in methodology used to study high-LET induced cytogenetic effects and evaluate the use of chemically-induced Premature Chromosome Condensation (PCC) as an alternative to metaphase analysis. Published data on the cytogenetic effects of in vitro exposures of high-LET radiation is reviewed, along with biodosimetry results from astronauts after short or long space missions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. tkawata@faculty.chiba-u.jp
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Honglu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Francis A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cucinotta
mesh_terms: D018480:Astronauts; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase / Q000528:radiation effects; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008387:Marine Toxins; D008938:Mitosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010080:Oxazoles; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008387:Marine Toxins; D010080:Oxazoles; C059041:calyculin A; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases