A Longitudinal Study of Individual Radiation Responses in Pediatric Patients Treated with Proton and Photon Radiotherapy, and Interventional Cardiology: Rationale and Research Protocol of the HARMONIC Project.

The Health Effects of Cardiac Fluoroscopy and Modern Radiotherapy (photon and proton) in Pediatrics (HARMONIC) is a five-year project funded by the European Commission that aimed to improve the understanding of the long-term ionizing radiation (IR) risks for pediatric patients. In this paper, we provide a detailed overview of the rationale, design, and methods for the biological aspect of the project with objectives to provide a mechanistic understanding of the molecular pathways involved in the IR response and to identify potential predictive biomarkers of individual response involved in long-term health risks. Biological samples will be collected at three time points: before the first exposure, at the end of the exposure, and one year after the exposure. The average whole-body dose, the dose to the target organ, and the dose to some important out-of-field organs will be estimated. State-of-the-art analytical methods will be used to assess the levels of a set of known biomarkers and also explore high-resolution approaches of proteomics and miRNA transcriptomes to provide an integrated assessment. By using bioinformatics and systems biology, biological pathways and novel pathways involved in the response to IR exposure will be deciphered.

A Proteomic Study Suggests Stress Granules as New Potential Actors in Radiation-Induced Bystander Effects.

Besides the direct effects of radiations, indirect effects are observed within the surrounding non-irradiated area; irradiated cells relay stress signals in this close proximity, inducing the so-called radiation-induced bystander effect. These signals received by neighboring unirradiated cells induce specific responses similar with those of direct irradiated cells. To understand the cellular response of bystander cells, we performed a 2D gel-based proteomic study of the chondrocytes receiving the conditioned medium of low-dose irradiated chondrosarcoma cells. The conditioned medium was directly analyzed by mass spectrometry in order to identify candidate bystander factors involved in the signal transmission. The proteomic analysis of the bystander chondrocytes highlighted 20 proteins spots that were significantly modified at low dose, implicating several cellular mechanisms, such as oxidative stress responses, cellular motility, and exosomes pathways. In addition, the secretomic analysis revealed that the abundance of 40 proteins in the conditioned medium of 0.1 Gy irradiated chondrosarcoma cells was significantly modified, as compared with the conditioned medium of non-irradiated cells. A large cluster of proteins involved in stress granules and several proteins involved in the cellular response to DNA damage stimuli were increased in the 0.1 Gy condition. Several of these candidates and cellular mechanisms were confirmed by functional analysis, such as 8-oxodG quantification, western blot, and wound-healing migration tests. Taken together, these results shed new lights on the complexity of the radiation-induced bystander effects and the large variety of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved, including the identification of a new potential actor, namely the stress granules.

Hadrontherapy Interactions in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

The resistance of cancer cells to radiotherapy is a major issue in the curative treatment of cancer patients. This resistance can be intrinsic or acquired after irradiation and has various definitions, depending on the endpoint that is chosen in assessing the response to radiation. This phenomenon might be strengthened by the radiosensitivity of surrounding healthy tissues. Sensitive organs near the tumor that is to be treated can be affected by direct irradiation or experience nontargeted reactions, leading to early or late effects that disrupt the quality of life of patients. For several decades, new modalities of irradiation that involve accelerated particles have been available, such as proton therapy and carbon therapy, raising the possibility of specifically targeting the tumor volume. The goal of this review is to examine the up-to-date radiobiological and clinical aspects of hadrontherapy, a discipline that is maturing, with promising applications. We first describe the physical and biological advantages of particles and their application in cancer treatment. The contribution of the microenvironment and surrounding healthy tissues to tumor radioresistance is then discussed, in relation to imaging and accurate visualization of potentially resistant hypoxic areas using dedicated markers, to identify patients and tumors that could benefit from hadrontherapy over conventional irradiation. Finally, we consider combined treatment strategies to improve the particle therapy of radioresistant cancers.

MTH1, an 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine triphosphatase, and MYH, a DNA glycosylase, cooperate to inhibit mutations induced by chronic exposure to oxidative stress of ionising radiation.

Our previous results showed that in addition to the immediate interaction of ionising radiation with DNA (direct and indirect effect), low-dose and chronic low-dose rate of irradiation induce endogenous oxidative stress. During oxidative stress, free radicals react with DNA, nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), proteins and lipids, and modify their structures. The MYH and MTH1 genes play important roles in preventing mutations induced by 8-hydroxy-guanine, which is an oxidised product of guanine. In this study, we used short-hairpin RNA to permanently knockdown MYH and MTH1 proteins in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells. Knockdown and wild-type cells were chronically exposed to low dose rates of γ-radiation (between 1.4 and 30 mGy/h). The cells were also subjected to acute doses delivered at a high-dose rate. Growth rate, extracellular 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, clonogenic cell survival and mutant frequencies were analysed in all cell types. A reduced level of cell growth and survival as well as increased mutant frequencies were observed in cells lacking both MYH and MTH1 proteins as compared to cells lacking only MYH and wild-type cells. To sum up, our results suggest that low-dose rates elevate oxidative stress. MTH1 together with MYH plays an important role in protection against mutations induced by modified dNTPs during chronic oxidative stress. In addition, we found no dose-rate effect at the level of mutations in the wild-type TK6 and MYH-KD cells. Our data interestingly indicate a dose-rate threshold for mutation induction in MTH1/MYH double knockdown cells.

Possible benefits of tomato juice consumption: a pilot study on irradiated human lymphocytes from healthy donors.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate much of the DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Among carotenoids, lycopene and ß-carotene, present in tomato juice, are known to be strong radical scavengers. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of tomato juice intake on the levels of DNA damage and oxidative stress in human whole blood induced by in vitro exposure to X-rays. METHODS: Ten healthy adults were asked to drink 190 g of tomato juice, containing 17 mg lycopene and 0.25 mg ß-carotene, per day for 3 weeks and then refrain from drinking it for 3 weeks. Peripheral whole blood samples were collected before and after the intake period of tomato juice and after the washout period. The blood samples were exposed in vitro to X-ray doses of 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 2 Gy. Cytogenetic damage was measured using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and the dicentrics (DIC) assay. The level of oxidative stress was determined using serum 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and plasma reactive oxygen metabolite-derived compounds (d-ROMs). The concentration of carotenoids in plasma was measured at the three time points. RESULTS: The levels of 8-oxo-dG tended to decrease during the intake period and increase during the washout period. A non-significant inverse correlation was noted between the plasma concentration of lycopene plus ß-carotene and the level of 8-oxo-dG (P = 0.064). The radiation-induced MN and DIC frequencies increased in a dose-dependent manner, and when compared at the same dose, the MN and DIC frequencies decreased during the intake period compared with those at baseline and then increased during the washout period. The results suggest that continuous tomato juice consumption non-significantly decreases extracellular 8-oxo-dG, d-ROMs, and MN. Tomato juice intake had minimal or no effect on radiation-induced 8-oxo-dG and d-ROMs. For most radiation doses, continuously tomato juice intake lowered the levels of MN and DIC. CONCLUSION: Tomato juice consumption may suppress human lymphocyte DNA damage caused by radiation, but further examination is required. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 2014-001 and 2014-R06.

Transient delay of radiation-induced apoptosis by phorbol acetate.

The mechanisms of interference of a model tumour promoter 12-O-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) with radiation-induced apoptosis in human peripheral lymphocytes have been investigated. The cells were treated with TPA under various conditions and thereafter exposed to a single lethal dose of gamma radiation. Morphological and biochemical changes characteristic of apoptosis were followed up to 72 h of post-irradiation time. Acute exposure to low concentration of TPA resulted in delay in the onset of radiation-induced apoptosis (determined as morphological changes and rate of mitochondrial demise) by 24-48 h as compared to the irradiated, sham TPA-treated cells. The time course of this delay correlated well with confinement of the p53 protein to the cytoplasm and increase in bcl-2 levels at the nuclear periphery of irradiated cells. Our results indicate that confinement of p53 in the cytoplasm is one of the potential mechanisms by which TPA interferes with the process of radiation-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes.

Interaction of low and high LET radiation in TK6 cells-mechanistic aspects and significance for radiation protection.

Most environmental, occupational and medical exposures to ionising radiation are associated with a simultaneous action of different radiation types. An open question remains whether radiations of different qualities interact with each other to yield effects stronger than expected based on the assumption of additivity. It is possible that DNA damage induced by high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation will lead to an opening of the chromatin structure making the DNA more susceptible to attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the low LET radiation. In such case, the effect of mixed beams should be strongly expressed in cells that are sensitive to ROS. The present investigation was carried out to test if cells with an impaired capacity to handle oxidative stress are particularly sensitive to the effect of mixed beams of alpha particles and x-rays. Clonogenic cell survival curves and mutant frequencies were analysed in TK6 wild type (wt) cells and in TK6 cells with a knocked down hMYH glycosylase. The results showed a synergistic effect of mixed beams on clonogenic cell survival of TK6wt but not TK6MYH- cells. The frequencies of mutants showed a high degree of interexperimental variability without any indications for synergistic effects of mixed beams. TK6MYH- cells were generally more tolerant to radiation exposure with respect to clonogenic cell survival but showed a strong increase in mutant frequency. The results demonstrate that exposure of wt cells to a mixed beam of alpha particles and x-rays leads to a detrimental effect which is stronger than expected based on the assumption of additivity. The role of oxidative stress in the reaction of cells to mixed beams remains unclear.

Differences in micronucleus frequency and acrylamide adduct levels with hemoglobin between vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

PURPOSE: Nutrients and food constituents can prevent or contribute to genotoxicity. In this study, the possible influence of a vegetarian/non-vegetarian diet on genotoxic effects was investigated in 58 non-smoking healthy vegetarians (V) and non-vegetarians (NV), age 21-37 years from the Stockholm area in Sweden. METHODS: Physical activity and dietary habits were similar in both groups, with the exception of the intake of meat and fish. Using flow cytometry, we determined the formation of micronuclei (MN) in transferrin-positive immature peripheral blood reticulocytes (Trf-Ret) (Total: n = 53; V: n = 27; NV: n = 26). Dietary exposure to acrylamide was measured through hemoglobin (Hb) adducts in peripheral erythrocytes (Total: n = 53; V: n = 29; NV: n = 24). Hb adducts of both acrylamide and its genotoxic metabolite glycidamide were monitored as a measure of the corresponding in vivo doses. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated that compared with the non-vegetarians, the vegetarians exhibited lower frequencies of MN (fMN) in the Trf-Ret (p < 0.01, Student's t test). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that there was no association between the fMN and factors such as age, sex, intake of vitamins/minerals, serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels, physical activity, and body mass index. The mean Hb adduct levels of acrylamide and glycidamide showed no significant differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Furthermore, there were no significant relationships between the adduct levels and fMN in the individuals. The ratio of the Hb adduct levels from glycidamide and acrylamide, however, showed a significant difference (p < 0.04) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the vegetarian diet might be beneficial in lowering genomic instability in healthy individuals. The measured Hb adduct levels indicate that the total intake of acrylamide does not differ between the two studied groups and does not contribute to the observed difference in fMN, although an influence of the diet on the metabolic rates of acrylamide was indicated. In addition, the observed significant difference in the background fMN in the two groups demonstrated that the MN analysis method has a sensitivity applicable to the biomonitoring of human lifestyle factors.

Mutations and chromosomal aberrations in hMTH1-transfected and non-transfected TK6 cells after exposure to low dose rates of gamma radiation.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the dose rate effect of gamma radiation at the level of mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and cell growth in TK6 cells with normal as well as reduced levels of hMTH1 protein. TK6 cells were exposed to gamma radiation at dose rates ranging from 1.4 to 30.0 mGy/h (chronic exposure) as well as 24 Gy/h (acute exposure). Cell growth, frequency of thymidine kinase mutants, and of chromosomal aberrations in painted chromosomes 2, 8, and 14 were analysed. A decline in cell growth and an increase in unstable-type chromosomal aberrations with increasing dose rate were observed in both cell lines. A dose rate effect was not seen on mutations or stable-type chromosomal aberrations in any of the two cell lines. Reduction in the hMTH1 protein does not influence the sensitivity of TK6 cells to gamma radiation. This result fits well with data of others generated with the same cell line.

Support for the "Vancouver call for action to strengthen expertise in radiological protection worldwide": the position of organisations in formal relations with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), recently expressed concern that "a shortage of investment in training, education, research, and infrastructure seen in many sectors and countries may compromise society's ability to properly manage radiation risks" and in 2022 announced the "Vancouver call for action to strengthen expertise in radiological protection worldwide". As representatives of organisations in formal relations with ICRP, we decided to promote this position paper to declare and emphasise that strengthening the expertise in radiological protection is a collective priority for all of us.

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals induction of premature senescence in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to chronic low-dose rate gamma radiation.

Chronic low-dose ionizing radiation induces cardiovascular disease in human populations but the mechanism is largely unknown. We suggested that chronic radiation exposure may induce endothelial cell senescence that is associated with vascular damage in vivo. We investigated whether chronic radiation exposure is causing a change in the onset of senescence in endothelial cells in vitro. Indeed, when exposed to continuous low-dose rate gamma radiation (4.1 mGy/h), primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) initiated senescence much earlier than the nonirradiated control cells. We investigated the changes in the protein expression of HUVECs before and during the onset of radiation-induced senescence. Cellular proteins were quantified using isotope-coded protein label technology after 1, 3, and 6 weeks of radiation exposure. Several senescence-related biological pathways were influenced by radiation, including cytoskeletal organization, cell-cell communication and adhesion, and inflammation. Immunoblot analysis showed an activation of the p53/p21 pathway corresponding to the progressing senescence. Our data suggest that chronic radiation-induced DNA damage and oxidative stress result in induction of p53/p21 pathway that inhibits the replicative potential of HUVECs and leads to premature senescence. This study contributes to the understanding of the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases seen in populations exposed to chronic low-dose irradiation.

Intracellular deoxyribonucleotide pool imbalance and DNA damage in cells treated with hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase.

Imbalance in the nucleotide pool of mammalian cells has been shown to result in genotoxic damage. The goal of this study was to devise a sensitive, reproducible and simple method for detection of nucleotide pool changes in mammalian cells that could be used for problem-solving activities in drug development, e.g. mechanistic explanation of a positive response in a mammalian in vitro genotoxicity test. The method evaluated in this study is based on ethanol extraction of the total nucleotide pool, heat treatment and filtration, treatment with calf intestine alkaline phosphatase to convert nucleotides to nucleosides and analysis of the nucleosides by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The method was applied to measure the intracellular levels of deoxyribonucleotides in mouse lymphoma (ML) L5178Y cells treated with various concentrations of a model compound, hydroxyurea (HU), a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor. DNA strand breakage and micronuclei formation were assessed in the same experiments. Imbalance of nucleotide pool (i.e. changes in the relative ratios between individual nucleotide pools) in HU-treated ML cells has been observed already at a concentration of 0.01 mmol/l, whereas genotoxic effects became apparent only at higher concentrations of HU (i.e. 0.25 mmol/l and higher) as indicated by formation of DNA strand breaks and micronuclei.

Evidence for different mechanisms of action behind the mutagenic effects of 4-NOPD and OPD: the role of DNA damage, oxidative stress and an imbalanced nucleotide pool.

The mutagenicity of 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (4-NOPD) and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) was compared using the Mouse Lymphoma Assay (MLA) with or without metabolic activation (S9). As expected, OPD was found to be a more potent mutagen than 4-NOPD. To evaluate possible mechanisms behind their mutagenic effects, the following end points were also monitored in cells that had been exposed to similar concentrations of the compounds as in the MLA: general DNA damage (using a standard protocol for the Comet assay); oxidative DNA damage (using a modified procedure for the Comet assay in combination with the enzyme hOGG1); reactive oxygen species (ROS; using the CM-H2DCFDA assay); and the balance of the nucleotide pool (measured after conversion to the corresponding nucleosides dC, dT, dG and dA using high-performance liquid chromatography). Both compounds increased the level of general DNA damage. Again, OPD was found to be more potent than 4-NOPD (which only increased the level of general DNA damage in the presence of S9). Although less obvious for OPD, both compounds increased the level of oxidative DNA damage. However, an increase in intracellular ROS was only observed in cells exposed to 4-NOPD, both with and without S9 (which in itself induced oxidative stress). Both compounds decreased the concentrations of dA, dT and dC. A striking effect of OPD was the sharp reduction of dA observed already at very low concentration, both with and without S9 (which in itself affected the precursor pool). Taken together, our results indicate that indirect effects on DNA, possibly related to an unbalanced nucleotide pool, mediate the mutagenicity and DNA-damaging effects of 4-NOPD and OPD to a large extent. Although induction of intracellular oxidative stress seems to be a possible mechanism behind the genotoxicity of 4-NOPD, this pathway seems to be of less importance for the more potent mutagen OPD.

Complex aberrations in lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of (241)Am alpha particles and X-rays.

Modern radiotherapy treatment modalities are associated with undesired out-of-field exposure to complex mixed beams of high and low energy transfer (LET) radiation that can give rise to secondary cancers. The biological effectiveness of mixed beams is not known. The aim of the investigation was the analysis of chromosomal damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) exposed to a mixed beam of X-rays and alpha particles. Using a dedicated exposure facility PBL were exposed to increasing doses of alpha particles (from (241)Am), X-rays and a mixture of both. Chromosomal aberrations were analysed in chromosomes 2, 8 and 14 using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The found and expected frequencies of simple and complex aberrations were compared. Simple aberrations showed linear dose-response relationships with doses. A higher than expected frequency of simple aberrations was only observed after the highest mixed beam dose. A linear-quadratic dose response curve for complex aberrations was observed after mixed-beam exposure. Higher than expected frequencies of complex aberrations were observed for the two highest doses. Both the linear-quadratic dose-response relationship and the calculation of expected frequencies show that exposure of PBL to mixed beams of high and low LET radiation leads to a higher than expected frequency of complex-type aberrations. Because chromosomal changes are associated with cancer induction this result may imply that the cancer risk of exposure to mixed beams in radiation oncology may be higher than expected based on the additive action of the individual dose components.

Radiation-induced stress response in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients differs between patients with severe acute skin reactions and patients with no side effects to radiotherapy.

The aim of the study was to compare the radiation-induced oxidative stress response in blood samples from breast cancer patients that developed severe acute skin reactions during the radiotherapy, with the response in blood samples from patients with no side effects. Peripheral blood was collected from 12 breast cancer patients showing no early skin reactions after radiotherapy (RTOG grade 0) and from 14 breast cancer patients who developed acute severe skin reactions (RTOG grade 3-4). Whole blood was irradiated with 0, 5 and 2000mGy γ-radiation and serum was isolated. The biomarker for oxidative stress, 8-oxo-dG, was analyzed in the serum by a modified ELISA. While a significant radiation-induced increase of serum 8-oxo-dG levels was observed in serum of the RTOG 0 patients, no increase was seen in serum of the RTOG 3-4 patients. The radiation induced increase in serum 8-oxo-dG levels after 5mGy did not differ significantly from the increase observed for 2000mGy in the RTOG 3-4 cohort, thus no dose response relation was observed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) value of 0.97 was obtained from the radiation-induced increase in 8-oxo-dG indicating that the assay could be used to identify patients with severe acute adverse reactions to radiotherapy. The results show that samples of whole blood from patients, classified as highly radiosensitive (RTOG 3-4) based on their skin reactions to radiotherapy, differ significantly in their oxidative stress response to ionizing radiation compared to samples of whole blood from patients with no skin reactions (RTOG 0). Extracellular 8-oxo-dG is primarily a biomarker of nucleotide damage and the results indicate that the patients with severe acute skin reactions differ in their cellular response to ionizing radiation at the level of induction of oxidative stress or at the level of repair or both.

Analysis of mutant frequencies and mutation spectra in hMTH1 knockdown TK6 cells exposed to UV radiation.

Ultraviolet radiation is a highly mutagenic agent that damages the DNA by the formation of mutagenic photoproducts at dipyrimidine sites and by oxidative DNA damages via reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can also give rise to mutations via oxidation of dNTPs in the nucleotide pool, e.g. 8-oxo-dGTP and 2-OH-dATP and subsequent incorporation during DNA replication. Here we show that expression of human MutT homolog 1 (hMTH1) which sanitizes the nucleotide pool by dephosphorylating oxidized dNTPs, protects against mutagenesis induced by long wave UVA light and by UVB light but not by short wave UVC light. Mutational spectra analyses of UVA-induced mutations at the endogenous Thymidine kinase gene in human lymphoblastoid cells revealed that hMTH1 mainly protects cells from transitions at GC and AT base pairs.

Roles of Oxidative Stress and Nrf2 Signaling in Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Cells: A Possible General Mechanism of Resistance to Therapy.

The coordinating role of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in cellular function is undeniable. Evidence indicates that this transcription factor exerts massive regulatory functions in multiple signaling pathways concerning redox homeostasis and xenobiotics, macromolecules, and iron metabolism. Being the master regulator of antioxidant system, Nrf2 controls cellular fate, influencing cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, resistance to therapy, and senescence processes, as well as infection disease success. Because Nrf2 is the key coordinator of cell defence mechanisms, dysregulation of its signaling has been associated with carcinogenic phenomena and infectious and age-related diseases. Deregulation of this cytoprotective system may also interfere with immune response. Oxidative burst, one of the main microbicidal mechanisms, could be impaired during the initial phagocytosis of pathogens, which could lead to the successful establishment of infection and promote susceptibility to infectious diseases. There is still a knowledge gap to fill regarding the molecular mechanisms by which Nrf2 orchestrates such complex networks involving multiple pathways. This review describes the role of Nrf2 in non-pathogenic and pathogenic cells.

Oxidative Stress Levels and DNA Repair Kinetics in Senescent Primary Human Fibroblasts Exposed to Chronic Low Dose Rate of Ionizing Radiation.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to low dose rate (LDR) radiation may accelerate aging processes. Previously, we identified numerous LDR-induced pathways involved in oxidative stress (OS) and antioxidant systems, suggesting that these pathways protect against premature senescence (PS). This study aimed to investigate if there are differences between young replicative senescent (RS) and PS cells considering DNA repair kinetics, OS, and DNA damage localized in the telomeres. METHODS: We established PS cells by culturing and passaging young primary fibroblasts exposed to LDR. Then, RS cells were established by culturing and passaging young fibroblasts until they stopped proliferating. Senescence was characterized by analyzing telomere length and senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) staining. DNA damage and repair were evaluated with γH2AX foci formation; telomere identification was carried out using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe; and oxidative stress was assessed by measuring 8-oxo-dG in the medium. RESULTS: The data indicate the following: young cells have a better ability to cope with LDR-induced oxidative stress; RS and PS have higher steady-state levels of DNA damage; RS have slower DNA repair kinetics; and PS/RS have elevated levels of telomeric DNA damage. CONCLUSION: Our main conclusion is that PS and RS differ regarding DNA repair kinetics and SA-ß-gal levels.

Tomato juice intake suppressed serum concentration of 8-oxodG after extensive physical activity.

BACKGROUND: DNA is constantly exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS), spontaneously arising during the normal oxygen metabolism. ROS may result in temporary as well as permanent modifications in various cellular components such as lipids, proteins and DNA, which may have deleterious consequences. Demonstrating that a dietary supplementation of antioxidants can reduce oxidative DNA damage may provide evidence for the value of such supplementation in prevention of cancer and age related diseases. FINDINGS: The present study was conducted to address whether tomato juice protects against ROS induced by extensive physical exercise in untrained individuals. As a marker of oxidative stress, serum levels of 8-oxodG were monitored using a modified ELISA. An intervention was performed involving 15 untrained healthy subjects who performed a 20 min physical exercise at 80% of maximum pulse using an ergometer bicycle. Blood samples were taken before and one hour after the exercise. The procedure was repeated after 5 weeks with a daily intake of 150 ml tomato juice and followed by a 5 weeks wash-out period and another 5 weeks with a daily intake of tomato juice. The results indicated that a daily intake of tomato juice, equal to 15 mg lycopene per day, for 5 weeks significantly reduced the serum levels of 8-oxodG after an extensive physical exercise. CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest that tomato juice has a potential antioxidant effect and may reduce the elevated level of ROS induced by oxidative stress.

Micronuclei in human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of X-rays and alpha particles.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the cytogenetic effect of exposing human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to a mixed beam of alpha particles and X-rays. Whole blood collected from one donor was exposed to different doses of alpha particles ((241)Am), X-rays and a combination of both. All exposures were carried out at 37 °C. Three independent experiments were performed. Micronuclei (MN) in binucleated PBL were scored as the endpoint. Moreover, the size of MN was measured. The results show that exposure of PBL to a mixed beam of high and low linear energy transfer radiation led to significantly higher than expected frequencies of MN. The measurement of MN size did not reveal any differences between the effect of alpha particles and mixed beam. In conclusion, a combined exposure of PBL to alpha particles and X-rays leads to a synergistic effect as measured by the frequency of MN. From the analysis of MN distributions, we conclude that the increase was due to an impaired repair of X-ray-induced DNA damage.