title: Effects of ionizing radiation on DNA methylation: from experimental biology to clinical applications.
abstract: Ionizing radiation (IR) is a ubiquitous environmental stressor with genotoxic and epigenotoxic capabilities. Terrestrial IR, predominantly a low-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, is being widely utilized in medicine, as well as in multiple industrial applications. Additionally, an interest in understanding the effects of high-LET irradiation is emerging due to the potential of exposure during space missions and the growing utilization of high-LET radiation in medicine.
  
  
  
  In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the effects of IR on DNA methylation, a key epigenetic mechanism regulating the expression of genetic information. We discuss global, repetitive elements and gene-specific DNA methylation in light of exposure to high and low doses of high- or low-LET IR, fractionated IR exposure, and bystander effects. Finally, we describe the mechanisms of IR-induced alterations to DNA methylation and discuss ways in which that understanding can be applied clinically, including utilization of DNA methylation as a predictor of response to radiotherapy and in the manipulation of DNA methylation patterns for tumor radiosensitization.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA.
authors.forename: Isabelle R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Miousse
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA.
authors.forename: Kristy R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kutanzi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , AR , USA.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koturbash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA methylation; Epigenetics; ionizing radiation; radiotherapy; space radiation; transposable elements