title: Lessons learned using different mouse models during space radiation-induced lung tumorigenesis experiments.
abstract: Unlike terrestrial ionizing radiation, space radiation, especially galactic cosmic rays (GCR), contains high energy charged (HZE) particles with high linear energy transfer (LET). Due to a lack of epidemiologic data for high-LET radiation exposure, it is highly uncertain how high the carcinogenesis risk is for astronauts following exposure to space radiation during space missions. Therefore, using mouse models is necessary to evaluate the risk of space radiation-induced tumorigenesis; however, which mouse model is better for these studies remains uncertain. Since lung tumorigenesis is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, and low-LET radiation exposure increases human lung carcinogenesis, evaluating space radiation-induced lung tumorigenesis is critical to enable safe Mars missions. Here, by comparing lung tumorigenesis obtained from different mouse strains, as well as miR-21 in lung tissue/tumors and serum, we believe that wild type mice with a low spontaneous tumorigenesis background are ideal for evaluating the risk of space radiation-induced lung tumorigenesis, and circulating miR-21 from such mice model might be used as a biomarker for predicting the risk.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Xiangming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Alton B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: ywang94@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013026:Space Flight
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C554251:GPRC5A protein, mouse; C531950:MIRN21 microRNA, mouse
keywords: Linear energy transfer; Lung tumorigenesis; Mouse model; Space radiation