title: International workshop: radiation effects on mutation in somatic and germline stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  New developments in knowledge of radiation effects on tissue stem cells were discussed in a Workshop held at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) in Hiroshima, Japan, 18-19 January 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stem cells and their niche in intestinal mucosa, haemopoietic tissue, hair follicles, and spermatogenesis were discussed variously with regard to radiosensitivity, repair, regeneration, age-dependency of effects, genetic effects, and protection aspects. These tissues all possess a common basic template, but there are structural and hierarchical differences between tissues which continue to be elucidated in terms of a stem-cell age structure and niche regulatory signals which together govern radiation responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stem cells and their niche have become much better characterized in recent years, and their radiation response can be elucidated in detail in experimental systems to help underpin both protection and therapeutic recommendations established from human epidemiological evidence. This report summarizes the presentations at the meeting, and concludes with some remaining questions which may be answered with the help of this type of research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan. ykodama@rerf.or.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Asao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Breault
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Jolyon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendry
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rübe
authors.forename: Emi K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitani
authors.forename: Nori
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ohtsura
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Niwa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000235:genetics; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D012038:Regeneration; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*