Efficacy and Safety of Lu-177 DOTATATE Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Patients with Unresectable or Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Lutetium (Lu)-177 peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is one of the standard treatments for somatostatin receptor-positive well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, limited Asian representation in the pivotal NETTER-1 trial and a lack of real-world data for Lu-177 PRRT from Asian regions exist. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lu-177 PRRT in Korean patients with advanced NETs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study analyzed 64 patients treated with Lu-177 DOTATATE PRRT at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, between November 2019 and December 2022. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety profile. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 55 years. Prior to PRRT, patients received a median of two lines (range 0-6) of systemic therapy. Fifty (78%) patients received the planned four cycles of Lu-177 DOTATATE PRRT. The median PFS was 21.7 months (95% confidence interval 16.7-not available) and the ORR was 20%. With a median follow-up of 15.7 months (range 1.0-39.3), the median OS was not reached and the 1-year OS rate was 88%. The median PFS was better in patients with grade 1-2 NETs than in those with grade 3 NET (not reached vs. 14.2 months; hazard ratio 3.15; p = 0.0058). Hematological toxicities were the common adverse events, including grade ≥ 3 anemia (7.8%), neutropenia (10.9%), and thrombocytopenia (9.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In Korean patients with advanced NETs, Lu-177 DOTATATE PRRT showed efficacy and safety outcomes, consistent with those in the NETTER-1 trial and previous Western real-world studies.

Twenty Years of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapeutics in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is the primary disastrous retinal disease that leads to blindness in the elderly population. In the early 2000s, nAMD resulted in irreversible vision loss and blindness with no available treatment options. However, there have been breakthrough advances in the drug development of anti-angiogenic biological agents over the last two decades. The primary target molecule for treating nAMD is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and there are currently several anti-VEGF drugs such as bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept, which have made nAMD more manageable than before, thus preventing vision loss. Nevertheless, it should be noted that these anti-VEGF drugs for nAMD treatment are not effective in more than half of the patients, and even those who initially gain visual improvements lose their vision over time, along with potential deterioration in the geography of atrophy. As a result, there have been continuous endeavors to improve anti-VEGF agents through better efficacy, fewer doses, expanded intervals, and additional targets. This review describes past and current anti-VEGF therapeutics used to treat nAMD and outlines future directions to improve the effectiveness and safety of anti-VEGF agents.

RNA Editing Enzyme ADAR1 Suppresses the Mobility of Cancer Cells via ARPIN.

Deamination of adenine or cytosine in RNA, called RNA editing, is a constitutively active and common modification. The primary role of RNA editing is tagging RNA right after its synthesis so that the endogenous RNA is recognized as self and distinguished from exogenous RNA, such as viral RNA. In addition to this primary function, the direct or indirect effects on gene expression can be utilized in cancer where a high level of RNA editing activity persists. This report identified actin-related protein 2/3 complex inhibitor (ARPIN) as a target of ADAR1 in breast cancer cells. Our comparative RNA sequencing analysis in MCF7 cells revealed that the expression of ARPIN was decreased upon ADAR1 depletion with altered editing on its 3'UTR. However, the expression changes of ARPIN were not dependent on 3'UTR editing but relied on three microRNAs acting on ARPIN. As a result, we found that the migration and invasion of cancer cells were profoundly increased by ADAR1 depletion, and this cellular phenotype was reversed by the exogenous ARPIN expression. Altogether, our data suggest that ADAR1 suppresses breast cancer cell mobility via the upregulation of ARPIN.

Simulated galactic cosmic radiation (GCR)-induced expression of Spp1 coincide with mammary ductal cell proliferation and preneoplastic changes in ApcMin/+ mouse.

Female astronauts inevitably exposed to galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) are considered at a greater risk for mammary cancer development. The purpose of this study is to assess the status of mammary cancer-associated preneoplasia markers after GCR and γ-ray irradiation using a mouse model of human mammary cancer. Female ApcMin/+ mice were irradiated to 50 cGy of either γ-ray (137Cs) or full-spectrum simulated galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) (33-beam), and at 110 - 120 days post-irradiation mice were euthanized, and normal-appearing mammary tissues were analyzed for histological and molecular markers of preneoplasia. Whole-mount staining, hematoxylin and eosin-based histological assessment, and Cyclin D1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to analyze ductal outgrowth and cell proliferation. Additionally, mRNA expression of known mammary preneoplasia markers (Muc1, Exo1, Foxm1, Depdc1a, Nusap1, Spp1, and Rrm2) was analyzed using qPCR, and their respective protein expression was validated using immunohistochemistry. A significant increase in ductal outgrowth and cell proliferation in mammary tissues of GCR-irradiated mice was noted which indicates a higher risk of mammary cancer, relative to γ-rays. Increased mRNA and protein expression of Spp1 was observed in the GCR group, relative to γ-rays. This study demonstrates the plausibility of Spp1 as a preneoplasia marker in the early detection of mammary cancer after space radiation exposure.

Low dose radiation upregulates Ras/p38 and NADPH oxidase in mouse colon two months after exposure.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ionizing is known to cause persistent cellular oxidative stress and NADPH oxidase (Nox) is a major source of cellular oxidant production. Chronic oxidative stress is associated with a myriad of human diseases including gastrointestinal cancer. However, the roles of NADPH oxidase in relation of long-term oxidative stress in colonic epithelial cells after radiation exposure are yet to be clearly established. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were exposed either to sham or to 0.5 Gy γ radiation, and NADPH oxidase, oxidative stress, and related signaling pathways were assessed in colon samples 60 days after exposure. Radiation exposure led to increased expression of colon-specific NADPH oxidase isoform, Nox1, as well as upregulation of its modifiers such as Noxa1 and Noxo1 at the mRNA and protein level. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed enhanced binding of Rac1, an activator of NADPH oxidase, to Nox1. Increased 4-hydroxynonenal, 8-oxo-dG, and γH2AX along with higher protein carbonylation levels suggest increased oxidative stress after radiation exposure. Immunoblot analysis demonstrates upregulation of Ras/p38 pathway, and Gata6 and Hif1α after irradiation. Increased staining of ß-catenin, cyclinD1, and Ki67 after radiation was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, data show that exposure to a low dose of radiation was associated with upregulation of NADPH oxidase and its modifiers along with increased Ras/p38/Gata6 signaling in colon. When considered along with oxidative damage and proliferative markers, our observations suggest that the NADPH oxidase pathway could be playing a critical role in propagating long-term oxidative stress after radiation with implications for colon carcinogenesis.

Heavy-ion radiation-induced colitis and colorectal carcinogenesis in Il10-/- mice display co-activation of ß-catenin and NF-κB signaling.

Space radiation-induced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer risk models for future interplanetary astronauts are being developed that primarily rely on quantitative animal model studies to assess radiation-quality effects of heavy-ion space radiation exposure in relation to γ-rays. While current GI-cancer risk estimation efforts are focused on sporadic GI-cancer mouse models, emerging in-vivo data on heavy-ion radiation-induced long-term GI-inflammation are indicative of a higher but undetermined risk of GI-inflammation associated cancers, such as colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Therefore, we aimed to assess radiation quality effects on colonic inflammation, colon cancer incidence, and associated signaling events using an in-vivo CAC model i.e., Il10-/- mice. Male Il10-/- mice (8-10 weeks, n = 12/group) were irradiated with either sham, γ-rays or heavy-ions (28Si or 56Fe), and histopathological assessments for colitis and CAC were conducted at 2.5 months post-exposure. qPCR analysis for inflammation associated gene transcripts (Ptges and Tgfb1), and in-situ staining for markers of cell-proliferation (phospho-histone H3), oncogenesis (active-ß-catenin, and cyclin D1), and inflammation (phospho-p65NF-κB, iNOS, and COX2) were performed. Significantly higher colitis and CAC frequency were noted after heavy-ion exposure, relative to γ and control mice. Higher CAC incidence after heavy-ion exposure was associated with greater activation of ß-catenin and NF-κB signaling marked by induced expression of common downstream inflammatory (iNOS and COX2) and pro-proliferative (Cyclin D1) targets. In summary, IR-induced colitis and CAC incidence in Il10-/- mice depends on radiation quality and display co-activation of ß-catenin and NF-κB signaling.

Predominant contribution of the dose received from constituent heavy-ions in the induction of gastrointestinal tumorigenesis after simulated space radiation exposure.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer risk among astronauts after encountering galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) is predicted to exceed safe permissible limits in long duration deep-space missions. Current predictions are based on relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values derived from in-vivo studies using single-ion beams, while GCR is essentially a mixed radiation field composed of protons (H), helium (He), and heavy ions. Therefore, a sequentially delivered proton (H) → Helium (He) → Oxygen (O) → Silicon (Si) beam was designed to simulate simplified-mixed-field GCR (Smf-GCR), and Apc1638N/+ mice were total-body irradiated to sham or γ (157Cs) or Smf-GCR followed by assessment of GI-tumorigenesis at 150 days post-exposure. Further, GI-tumor data from equivalent doses of heavy-ions (i.e., 0.05 Gy of O and Si) in 0.5 Gy of Smf-GCR were compared to understand the contributions of heavy-ions in GI-tumorigenesis. The Smf-GCR-induced tumor and carcinoma count were significantly greater than γ-rays, and male preponderance for GI-tumorigenesis was consistent with our earlier findings. Comparison of tumor data from Smf-GCR and equivalent doses of heavy ions revealed an association between higher GI-tumorigenesis where dose received from heavy-ions contributed to > 95% of the total GI-tumorigenic effect observed after Smf-GCR. This study provides the first experimental evidence that cancer risk after GCR exposure could largely depend on doses received from constituent heavy-ions.

Effects of dietary aspirin on high-LET radiation-induced prostaglandin E2 levels and gastrointestinal tumorigenesis in Apc1638N/+ mice.

Inevitable exposure to high-LET ionizing radiation (IR) present in galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) could enhance gastrointestinal (GI) cancer incidence among astronauts undertaking deep space exploration and GI-cancer mortality has been predicted to far exceed NASA's limit of < 3% REID (Radiation exposure-induced death) from cancer. Therefore, the development of countermeasure agents against high-LET radiation-induced GI cancer is needed to safeguard astronauts during and after an outer space mission. The cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 (COX2/PGE2) mediated activation of pro-inflammatory and oncogenic signaling has been reported to play an important role in persistent inflammation and GI-tumorigenesis after high-LET radiation exposure. Therefore, aspirin, a well-known inhibitor of the COX/PGE2 pathway, was evaluated as a potential countermeasure against 28Si-induced PGE2 and tumorigenesis in Apc1638N/+, a murine model of human GI-cancer. Animals were fed either standard or aspirin supplemented diet (75, 150, or 300 mg/day of human equivalent dose) starting at the age of 4 weeks and continued till the end of the study, while mice were exposed to 28Si-ions (300 MeV/n; 69 keV/µm) at the age of 8 weeks. Serum PGE2 level, GI tumor size (>2mm2), number, and cluster (>5 adjoining tumors) were analyzed at 150 days post-exposure. Aspirin led to a significant reduction in PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner but did not reduce 28Si-induced GI tumorigenesis even at the highest (300 mg/day) dose. In summary, this study suggests that aspirin could reduce high-LET IR-induced pro-inflammatory PGE2 levels, however, lacks the ability to reduce high-LET IR-induced GI tumorigenesis in Apc1638N/+ mice.

Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction-A Metabolomic Preprocessing Approach for Ionizing Radiation Exposure Assessment.

The modern application of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to the field of radiation assessment and biodosimetry has allowed for the development of prompt biomarker screenings for radiation exposure. Our previous work on radiation assessment, in easily accessible biofluids (such as urine, blood, saliva), has revealed unique metabolic perturbations in response to radiation quality, dose, and dose rate. Nevertheless, the employment of swift injury assessment in the case of a radiological disaster still remains a challenge as current sample processing can be time consuming and cause sample degradation. To address these concerns, we report a metabolomics workflow using a mass spectrometry-compatible fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) technique. FPSE employs a matrix coated with sol-gel poly(caprolactone-b-dimethylsiloxane-b-caprolactone) that binds both polar and nonpolar metabolites in whole blood, eliminating serum processing steps. We confirm that the FPSE preparation technique combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry can distinguish radiation exposure markers such as taurine, carnitine, arachidonic acid, α-linolenic acid, and oleic acid found 24 h after 8 Gy irradiation. We also note the effect of different membrane fibers on both metabolite extraction efficiency and the temporal stabilization of metabolites in whole blood at room temperature. These findings suggest that the FPSE approach could work in future technology to triage irradiated individuals accurately, via biomarker screening, by providing a novel method to stabilize biofluids between collection and sample analysis.

Global metabolomic responses in urine from atm deficient mice in response to LD50/30 gamma irradiation doses.

Exposures to ionizing radiation (IR) may either be accidental or intentional, for medical purposes or even through terrorist actions. As certain populations emerge to be more radiosensitive than others, it is imperative to assess those individuals and treat them accordingly. To demonstrate the feasibility of rapid identification of such cases, we utilized the highly radiosensitive mouse model Atm-/- in the C57BL/6 background, and evaluated the urinary responses in 8-10 week old male mice at early time points (4, 24, and 72 h) after exposure to their respective LD50/30 doses [4 Gy for Atm-/- , and 8 Gy for wild type (WT)]. Urinary profiles from heterozygous animals exhibited remarkably similar responses to WT before and after radiation exposure. However, genotypic differences (WT or Atm-/- ) were the primary driver to responses to radiation. Putative metabolites were validated through tandem mass spectrometry and included riboflavin, uric acid, d-ribose, d-glucose, pantothenic acid, taurine, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, 2-oxoadipic acid, glutaric acid, 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine, and hippuric acid. These metabolites mapped to several interconnected metabolic pathways which suggest that radiosensitive mouse models have underlying differences significantly impacting overall metabolism. This was further amplified by ionizing radiation at different time points. This study further emphasizes that genetically based radiosensitivity is reflected in the metabolic processes, and can be directly observed in urine. These differences in turn can potentially be used to identify individuals that may require altered medical treatment in an emergency radiological situation or modification of a regimen during a radiotherapy session. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:576-585, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Increased Transgenerational Intestinal Tumorigenesis in Offspring of Ionizing Radiation Exposed Parent APC1638N/+ Mice.

The purpose of the study was to assess transgenerational intestinal tumorigenic effects of low dose ionizing radiation employing a well-characterized mouse model of human colorectal cancer. Mice (6 to 8 weeks old APC1638N/+ mice; n=20 per study group) were exposed to whole-body 25 cGy x-rays and mated 2 days post-irradiation. Intestinal tumorigenesis in male and female F1 mice from No Parents Irradiated (NPI), Both Parents Irradiated (BPI), and Male Parent Irradiated (MPI) groups were compared 210 days after birth. Male and female Direct Parent Irradiated (DPI) groups were additional controls for male and female F1 groups respectively. Data showed higher intestinal tumor frequency (± standard error of the mean) in male and female F1 from BPI (male: 7.81 ± 0.91; female: 5.45 ± 0.36) as well as from MPI (male: 6.30 ± 0.33; female: 4.45 ± 0.33) mice relative to F1 from NPI mice (male: 4.2 ± 0.48; female: 3.35 ± 0.37). Compared to male and female DPI (male: 5.55 ± 0.40; female: 3.60 ± 0.22), tumor frequency in F1 mice of BPI and MPI, though higher, was not statistically significant except for DPI vs. BPI in male mice. Additionally, both BPI and MPI showed increased frequency of larger tumors relative to NPI. In summary, our observations demonstrated that the APC1638N/+ mice due to its low spontaneous tumor frequency could serve as an effective model to study risk of transgenerational carcinogenesis in gastrointestinal tissues after exposure to clinically relevant low doses of ionizing radiation.

Low and high dose rate heavy ion radiation-induced intestinal and colonic tumorigenesis in APC1638N/+ mice.

Ionizing radiation (IR) is a recognized risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) and astronauts undertaking long duration space missions are expected to receive IR doses in excess of permissible limits with implications for colorectal carcinogenesis. Exposure to IR in outer space occurs at low doses and dose rates, and energetic heavy ions due to their high linear energy transfer (high-LET) characteristics remain a major concern for CRC risk in astronauts. Previously, we have demonstrated that intestinal tumorigenesis in a mouse model (APC1638N/+) of human colorectal cancer was significantly higher after exposure to high dose rate energetic heavy ions relative to low-LET γ radiation. The purpose of the current study was to compare intestinal tumorigenesis in APC1638N/+ mice after exposure to energetic heavy ions at high (50cGy/min) and relatively low (0.33cGy/min) dose rate. Male and female mice (6-8 weeks old) were exposed to either 10 or 50cGy of 28Si (energy: 300MeV/n; LET: 70keV/µm) or 56Fe (energy: 1000MeV/n; LET: 148keV/µm) ions at NASA Space Radiation Laboratory in Brookhaven National Laboratory. Mice (n=20 mice/group) were euthanized and intestinal and colon tumor frequency and size were counted 150days after radiation exposure. Intestinal tumorigenesis in male mice exposed to 56Fe was similar for high and low dose rate exposures. Although male mice showed a decreasing trend at low dose rate relative to high dose rate exposures, the differences in tumor frequency between the two types of exposures were not statistically significant after 28Si radiation. In female mice, intestinal tumor frequency was similar for both radiation type and dose rates tested. In both male and female mice intestinal tumor size was not different after high and low dose rate radiation exposures. Colon tumor frequency in male and female mice after high and low dose rate energetic heavy ions was also not significantly different. In conclusion, intestinal and colonic tumor frequency and size was similar irrespective of energetic heavy ion radiation dose rate suggesting that carcinogenic potential of energetic heavy ions is independent of dose rate.

An Integrated Multi-Omic Approach to Assess Radiation Injury on the Host-Microbiome Axis.

Medical responders to radiological and nuclear disasters currently lack sufficient high-throughput and minimally invasive biodosimetry tools to assess exposure and injury in the affected populations. For this reason, we have focused on developing robust radiation exposure biomarkers in easily accessible biofluids such as urine, serum and feces. While we have previously reported on urine and serum biomarkers, here we assessed perturbations in the fecal metabolome resulting from exposure to external X radiation in vivo. The gastrointestinal (GI) system is of particular importance in radiation biodosimetry due to its constant cell renewal and sensitivity to radiation-induced injury. While the clinical GI symptoms such as pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are manifested after radiation exposure, no reliable bioindicator has been identified for radiation-induced gastrointestinal injuries. To this end, we focused on determining a fecal metabolomic signature in X-ray irradiated mice. There is overwhelming evidence that the gut microbiota play an essential role in gut homeostasis and overall health. Because the fecal metabolome is tightly correlated with the composition and diversity of the microorganism in the gut, we also performed fecal 16S rRNA sequencing analysis to determine the changes in the microbial composition postirradiation. We used in-house bioinformatics tools to integrate the 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic data, and to elucidate the gut integrated ecosystem and its deviations from a stable host-microbiome state that result from irradiation. The 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that radiation caused remarkable alterations of the microbiome in feces at the family level. Increased abundance of common members of Lactobacillaceae and Staphylococcaceae families, and decreased abundances of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Clostridiaceae families were found after 5 and 12 Gy irradiation. The metabolomic data revealed statistically significant changes in the microbial-derived products such as pipecolic acid, glutaconic acid, urobilinogen and homogentisic acid. In addition, significant changes were detected in bile acids such as taurocholic acid and 12-ketodeoxycholic acid. These changes may be associated with the observed shifts in the abundance of intestinal microbes, such as R. gnavus , which can transform bile acids.

Relative Biological Effectiveness of Energetic Heavy Ions for Intestinal Tumorigenesis Shows Male Preponderance and Radiation Type and Energy Dependence in APC(1638N/+) Mice.

PURPOSE: There are uncertainties associated with the prediction of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk from highly energetic heavy ion (HZE) radiation. We undertook a comprehensive assessment of intestinal and colonic tumorigenesis induced after exposure to high linear energy transfer (high-LET) HZE radiation spanning a range of doses and LET in a CRC mouse model and compared the results with the effects of low-LET γ radiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Male and female APC(1638N/+) mice (n=20 mice per group) were whole-body exposed to sham-radiation, γ rays, (12)C, (28)Si, or (56)Fe radiation. For the >1 Gy HZE dose, we used γ-ray equitoxic doses calculated using relative biological effectiveness (RBE) determined previously. The mice were euthanized 150 days after irradiation, and intestinal and colon tumor frequency was scored. RESULTS: The highest number of tumors was observed after (28)Si, followed by (56)Fe and (12)C radiation, and tumorigenesis showed a male preponderance, especially after (28)Si. Analysis showed greater tumorigenesis per unit of radiation (per cGy) at lower doses, suggesting either radiation-induced elimination of target cells or tumorigenesis reaching a saturation point at higher doses. Calculation of RBE for intestinal and colon tumorigenesis showed the highest value with (28)Si, and lower doses showed greater RBE relative to higher doses. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that the RBE of heavy ion radiation-induced intestinal and colon tumorigenesis is related to ion energy, LET, gender, and peak RBE is observed at an LET of 69 keV/µm. Our study has implications for understanding risk to astronauts undertaking long duration space missions.

A Disease-Associated Microbial and Metabolomics State in Relatives of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Microbes may increase susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by producing bioactive metabolites that affect immune activity and epithelial function. We undertook a family based study to identify microbial and metabolic features of IBD that may represent a predisease risk state when found in healthy first-degree relatives. METHODS: Twenty-one families with pediatric IBD were recruited, comprising 26 Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission, 10 ulcerative colitis patients in clinical remission, and 54 healthy siblings/parents. Fecal samples were collected for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics, and calprotectin measurement. Individuals were grouped into microbial and metabolomics states using Dirichlet multinomial models. Multivariate models were used to identify microbes and metabolites associated with these states. RESULTS: Individuals were classified into 2 microbial community types. One was associated with IBD but irrespective of disease status, had lower microbial diversity, and characteristic shifts in microbial composition including increased Enterobacteriaceae, consistent with dysbiosis. This microbial community type was associated similarly with IBD and reduced microbial diversity in an independent pediatric cohort. Individuals also clustered bioinformatically into 2 subsets with shared fecal metabolomics signatures. One metabotype was associated with IBD and was characterized by increased bile acids, taurine, and tryptophan. The IBD-associated microbial and metabolomics states were highly correlated, suggesting that they represented an integrated ecosystem. Healthy relatives with the IBD-associated microbial community type had an increased incidence of elevated fecal calprotectin. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy first-degree relatives can have dysbiosis associated with an altered intestinal metabolome that may signify a predisease microbial susceptibility state or subclinical inflammation. Longitudinal prospective studies are required to determine whether these individuals have a clinically significant increased risk for developing IBD.

Metabolomic profiling of urine samples from mice exposed to protons reveals radiation quality and dose specific differences.

As space travel is expanding to include private tourism and travel beyond low-Earth orbit, so is the risk of exposure to space radiation. Galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events have the potential to expose space travelers to significant doses of radiation that can lead to increased cancer risk and other adverse health consequences. Metabolomics has the potential to assess an individual's risk by exploring the metabolic perturbations in a biofluid or tissue. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 0.5 and 2 Gy of 1 GeV/nucleon of protons and the levels of metabolites were evaluated in urine at 4 h after radiation exposure through liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Significant differences were identified in metabolites that map to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and fatty acid metabolism, suggesting that energy metabolism is severely impacted after exposure to protons. Additionally, various pathways of amino acid metabolism (tryptophan, tyrosine, arginine and proline and phenylalanine) were affected with potential implications for DNA damage repair and cognitive impairment. Finally, presence of products of purine and pyrimidine metabolism points to direct DNA damage or increased apoptosis. Comparison of these metabolomic data to previously published data from our laboratory with gamma radiation strongly suggests a more pronounced effect on metabolism with protons. This is the first metabolomics study with space radiation in an easily accessible biofluid such as urine that further investigates and exemplifies the biological differences at early time points after exposure to different radiation qualities.

Wip1 abrogation decreases intestinal tumor frequency in APC(Min/+) mice irrespective of radiation quality.

Low-linear energy transfer (low-LET) γ-ray exposure is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Due to their high-LET nature, energetic iron ions found in space are expected to pose greater CRC risks to astronauts undertaking long-duration space missions beyond low Earth orbit. Wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) is important for cellular DNA damage response and its abrogation has been shown to inhibit spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in APC(Min/+) mice, a well-studied mouse model of human CRC. However, the relationship of Wip1 to radiation-induced intestinal tumorigenesis, especially by energetic iron ions, has not been investigated in APC(Min/+) mice. We have previously reported that there is a greater intestinal tumorigenic potential of iron-ion radiation relative to (137)Cs γ rays, so the purpose of the current study was to investigate whether Wip1 abrogation could influence high-LET dependent intestinal tumorigenesis in APC(Min/+) mice. Intestinal tumor frequency and grade were assessed in APC(Min/+)/Wip1(-/-) mice and results were compared to those in APC(Min/+)/Wip1(+/+) mice after exposure to a mean absorbed dose of 2 Gy from (137)Cs γ rays or 1.6 Gy from 1 GeV/n iron ions. Cellular differentiation and proliferation were also assessed in the intestinal tumors of sham-irradiated and irradiated mice. Decreased tumor frequency and lower tumor grade were observed in APC(Min/+)/Wip1(-/-) relative to APC(Min/+)/Wip1(+/+) mice. Notably, a similar decrease (∼6-fold in both groups) in tumor number was observed in sham-irradiated and γ-irradiated APC(Min/+)/Wip1(-/-) relative to APC(Min/+)/Wip1(+/+) mice. However, tumorigenesis in the energetic iron-ion exposed group was reduced ∼8-fold in APC(Min/+)/Wip1(-/-) relative to APC(Min/+)/Wip1(+/+) mice. A significantly lower proliferation/differentiation index in tumors of iron-ion exposed APC(Min/+)/Wip1(-/-) relative to APC(Min/+)/Wip1(+/+) mice suggests that reduced proliferation and enhanced differentiation as a result of Wip1 abrogation maybe involved. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that the absence of Wip1 blocked radiation-induced intestinal tumorigenesis irrespective of radiation quality and has implications for developing preventive strategies against the tumorigenic potential of radiation exposure on earth and in outer space.

Modulation of fatty acid and bile acid metabolism by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α protects against alcoholic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic alcohol intake affects liver function and causes hepatic pathological changes. It has been shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)-null mice developed more pronounced hepatic changes than wild-type (WT) mice after chronic exposure to a diet containing 4% alcohol. The remarkable similarity between the histopathology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in Ppara-null model and in humans, and the fact that PPARα expression and activity in human liver are less than one-tenth of those in WT mouse liver make Ppara-null a good system to investigate ALD. METHODS: In this study, the Ppara-null model was used to elucidate the dynamic regulation of PPARα activity during chronic alcohol intake. Hepatic transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were used to examine alterations of gene expression and metabolites associated with pathological changes. The changes triggered by alcohol consumption on gene expression and metabolites in Ppara-null mice were compared with those in WT mice. RESULTS: The results showed that in the presence of PPARα, 3 major metabolic pathways in mitochondria, namely the fatty acid ß-oxidation, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the electron transfer chain, were induced in response to a 2-month alcohol feeding, while these responses were greatly reduced in the absence of PPARα. In line with the transcriptional modulations of these metabolic pathways, a progressive accumulation of triglycerides, a robust increase in hepatic cholic acid and its derivatives, and a strong induction of fibrogenesis genes were observed exclusively in alcohol-fed Ppara-null mice. CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that PPARα plays a protective role to enhance mitochondrial function in response to chronic alcohol consumption by adaptive transcriptional activation and suggest that activation of this nuclear receptor may be of therapeutic value in the treatment for ALD.

High-energy particle-induced tumorigenesis throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

Epidemiological data reveals the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as one of the main sites for low-LET radiation-induced cancers. Importantly, the use of particle therapy is increasing, but cancer risk by high-LET particles is still poorly understood. This gap in our knowledge also remains a major limiting factor in planning long-term space missions. Therefore, assessing risks and identifying predisposing factors for carcinogenesis induced by particle radiation is crucial for both astronauts and cancer survivors. We have previously shown that exposure to relatively high doses of high-energy (56)Fe ions induced higher intestinal tumor frequency and grade in the small intestine of Apc(Min/+) mice than γ rays. However, due to the high number of spontaneous lesions (∼30) that develop in Apc(Min/+) animals, this Apc mutant model is not suitable to investigate effects of cumulative doses <1 Gy, which are relevant for risk assessment in astronauts and particle radiotherapy patients. However, Apc(1638N/+) mice develop a relatively small number of spontaneous lesions (∼3 per animal) in both small intestine and colon, and thus we propose a better model for studies on radiation-induced carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated model particle radiation increases tumor frequency and grade in the entire gastrointestinal tract (stomach and more distal intestine) after high- and low-radiation doses whether in the Apc(1638N/+). We have previously reported that an increase in small intestinal tumor multiplicity after exposure to γ rays was dependent on gender in Apc(1638N/+) mice, and here we investigated responses to particle radiation in the same model. Phenotypical and histopathological observations were accompanied by late changes in number and position of mitotic cells in intestinal crypts from animals exposed to different radiation types.