title: Biomarkers for Uranium Risk Assessment for the Development of the CURE (Concerted Uranium Research in Europe) Molecular Epidemiological Protocol.
abstract: Despite substantial experimental and epidemiological research, there is limited knowledge of the uranium-induce health effects after chronic low-dose exposures in humans. Biological markers can objectively characterize pathological processes or environmental responses to uranium and confounding agents. The integration of such biological markers into a molecular epidemiological study would be a useful approach to improve and refine estimations of uranium-induced health risks. To initiate such a study, Concerted Uranium Research in Europe (CURE) was established, and involves biologists, epidemiologists and dosimetrists. The aims of the biological work package of CURE were: 1. To identify biomarkers and biological specimens relevant to uranium exposure; 2. To define standard operating procedures (SOPs); and 3. To set up a common protocol (logistic, questionnaire, ethical aspects) to perform a large-scale molecular epidemiologic study in uranium-exposed cohorts. An intensive literature review was performed and led to the identification of biomarkers related to: 1. retention organs (lungs, kidneys and bone); 2. other systems/organs with suspected effects (cardiovascular system, central nervous system and lympho-hematopoietic system); 3. target molecules (DNA damage, genomic instability); and 4. high-throughput methods for the identification of new biomarkers. To obtain high-quality biological materials, SOPs were established for the sampling and storage of different biospecimens. A questionnaire was developed to assess potential confounding factors. The proposed strategy can be adapted to other internal exposures and should improve the characterization of the biological and health effects that are relevant for risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guéguen
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: b   Working Group SG1.2, Biological Radiation Effects, Biological Dosimetry, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS, Department SG Radiation Protection and Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hornhardt
authors.affiliation: c   Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers Group, Radiation Effects Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Badie
authors.affiliation: d   Institut Curie, Centre Universitaire, Orsay, France.|e   Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon (CRCL) UMR Inserm 1052 - CNRS 5286, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: f   Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN), Radiobiology Unit, Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baatout
authors.affiliation: g   Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Radiation Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute) and CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Barcelona, Spain.|h   ITEC Services, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pernot
authors.affiliation: i   National Radiation Protection Institute (SURO), Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomasek
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Teni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebrahimian
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Chrystelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ibanez
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grison
authors.affiliation: c   Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers Group, Radiation Effects Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kabacik
authors.affiliation: a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-HOM, SRBE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laurier
authors.affiliation: b   Working Group SG1.2, Biological Radiation Effects, Biological Dosimetry, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS, Department SG Radiation Protection and Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomolka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods*; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014501:Uranium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014501:Uranium