A research review of mechanism and genetic susceptibility of lens opacity induced by low-dose ionizing radiation / 中国辐射卫生

ABSTRACT

The lens of the eye has been recognized as one of the most radiosensitive tissues. It has been known that a radiation dose of 0.5 Gy or higher can induce radiation cataract. Studies have also demonstrated that long-term exposure to low-dose radiation can increase the risk of lens opacity. However, the specific biologic mechanism of lens opacity induced by low-dose ionizing radiation is still unclear. Many mechanism chains may induce opacity independently or jointly, such as genomic damage in lens epithelial cells, oxidative stress, defects in intercellular communication, and inflammatory reaction, and genetic and epigenetic factors may also play a role. This paper briefly reviews the mechanisms of low-dose ionizing radiation inducing lens opacity as well as the role of genetic susceptibility in its development and progression, in order to provide a scientific reference for the prevention and control of this disease.