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Rudigkeit S, Reindl J. Single-Cell Radiation Response Scoring with the Deep Learning Algorithm CeCILE 2.0. Cells 2023; 12:2782. [PMID: 38132103 PMCID: PMC10742313 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
External stressors, such as ionizing radiation, have massive effects on life, survival, and the ability of mammalian cells to divide. Different types of radiation have different effects. In order to understand these in detail and the underlying mechanisms, it is essential to study the radiation response of each cell. This allows abnormalities to be characterized and laws to be derived. Tracking individual cells over several generations of division generates large amounts of data that can no longer be meaningfully analyzed by hand. In this study, we present a deep-learning-based algorithm, CeCILE (Cell classification and in vitro lifecycle evaluation) 2.0, that can localize, classify, and track cells in live cell phase-contrast videos. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the viability of the cells, the cell cycle, cell survival, and the influence of X-ray radiation on these. Furthermore, radiation-specific abnormalities during division could be characterized. In summary, CeCILE 2.0 is a powerful tool to characterize and quantify the cellular response to external stressors such as radiation and to put individual responses into a larger context. To the authors knowledge, this is the first algorithm with a fully integrated workflow that is able to do comprehensive single-cell and cell composite analysis, allowing them to draw conclusions on cellular radiation response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith Reindl
- Section Biomedical Radiation Physics, Institute for Applied Physics and Measurement Technology, Universität der Bundeswehr München, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
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2
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Yanagihara H, Morioka T, Yamazaki S, Yamada Y, Tachibana H, Daino K, Tsuruoka C, Amasaki Y, Kaminishi M, Imaoka T, Kakinuma S. Interstitial deletion of the Apc locus in β-catenin-overexpressing cells is a signature of radiation-induced intestinal tumors in C3B6F1 ApcMin/+ mice†. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2023; 64:622-631. [PMID: 37117033 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrad021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have identified interstitial deletions in the cancer genome as a radiation-related mutational signature, although most of them do not fall on cancer driver genes. Pioneering studies in the field have indicated the presence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) spanning Apc in a subset of sporadic and radiation-induced intestinal tumors of ApcMin/+ mice, albeit with a substantial subset in which LOH was not detected; whether copy number losses accompany such LOH has also been unclear. Herein, we analyzed intestinal tumors of C3B6F1 ApcMin/+ mice that were either left untreated or irradiated with 2 Gy of γ-rays. We observed intratumor mosaicism with respect to the nuclear/cytoplasmic accumulation of immunohistochemically detectable β-catenin, which is a hallmark of Apc+ allele loss. An immunoguided laser microdissection approach enabled the detection of LOH involving the Apc+ allele in β-catenin-overexpressing cells; in contrast, the LOH was not observed in the non-overexpressing cells. With this improvement, LOH involving Apc+ was detected in all 22 tumors analyzed, in contrast to what has been reported previously. The use of a formalin-free fixative facilitated the LOH and microarray-based DNA copy number analyses, enabling the classification of the aberrations as nondisjunction/mitotic recombination type or interstitial deletion type. Of note, the latter was observed only in radiation-induced tumors (nonirradiated, 0 of 8; irradiated, 11 of 14). Thus, an analysis considering intratumor heterogeneity identifies interstitial deletion involving the Apc+ allele as a causative radiation-related event in intestinal tumors of ApcMin/+ mice, providing an accurate approach for attributing individual tumors to radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromi Yanagihara
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takamitsu Morioka
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Yamazaki
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yamada
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Tachibana
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Daino
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Chizuru Tsuruoka
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Amasaki
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mutsumi Kaminishi
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Imaoka
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shizuko Kakinuma
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
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3
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Suzuki K, Imaoka T, Tomita M, Sasatani M, Doi K, Tanaka S, Kai M, Yamada Y, Kakinuma S. Molecular and cellular basis of the dose-rate-dependent adverse effects of radiation exposure in animal models. Part I: Mammary gland and digestive tract. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2023; 64:210-227. [PMID: 36773323 PMCID: PMC10036108 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While epidemiological data are available for the dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor (DDREF) for human populations, animal models have contributed significantly to providing quantitative data with mechanistic insights. The aim of the current review is to compile both the in vitro experiments with reference to the dose-rate effects of DNA damage and repair, and the animal studies, specific to rodents, with reference to the dose-rate effects of cancer development. In particular, the review focuses especially on the results pertaining to underlying biological mechanisms and discusses their possible involvement in the process of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. Because the concept of adverse outcome pathway (AOP) together with the key events has been considered as a clue to estimate radiation risks at low doses and low dose-rates, the review scrutinized the dose-rate dependency of the key events related to carcinogenesis, which enables us to unify the underlying critical mechanisms to establish a connection between animal experimental studies with human epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Suzuki
- Corresponding author. Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Nagasaki University Atomic Bomb Disease Institute. 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan. Tel: +81-95-819-7116; Fax: +81-95-819-7117;
| | | | | | | | - Kazutaka Doi
- Department of Radiation Regulatory Science Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tanaka
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1-7 Ienomae, Obuchi, Rokkasho-mura, Kamikita-gun, Aomori 039-3212, Japan
| | - Michiaki Kai
- Nippon Bunri University, 1727-162 Ichiki, Oita, Oita 870-0397, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yamada
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shizuko Kakinuma
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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4
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Kohda A, Toyokawa T, Umino T, Ayabe Y, Tanaka IB, Komura JI. Frequencies of Chromosome Aberrations are Lower in Splenic Lymphocytes from Mice Continuously Exposed to Very Low-Dose-Rate Gamma Rays Compared with Non-Irradiated Control Mice. Radiat Res 2022; 198:639-645. [PMID: 36481804 DOI: 10.1667/rade-21-00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Chromosome aberrations have been one of the most sensitive and reliable biomarkers of exposure to ionizing radiation. Using the multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) technique, we compared the changes, over time, in the frequencies of translocations and of dicentric chromosomes in the splenic lymphocytes from specific pathogen-free (SPF) C3H/HeN female mice continuously exposed to 0.05 mGy/day (18.25 mGy/year) gamma rays for 125 to 700 days (total accumulated doses: 6.25-35 mGy) with age-matched non-irradiated controls. Results show that the frequencies of translocations and of dicentric chromosomes increased significantly over time in both irradiated and non-irradiated control mice, and that the frequencies were significantly lower, not higher, in the irradiated mice, which differs from our previous reports of increased chromosome aberration frequencies at higher radiation dose rates of 1 mGy/day and 20 mGy/day. These results will be useful when considering the radiation risk at very low-dose rates comparable to regulatory dose limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Kohda
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences (IES), 2-121 Hacchazawa, Takahoko, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039-3213, Japan
| | - Takuo Toyokawa
- Tohoku Nuclear Co., Ltd., 2-41-14 Higashi Okamisawa, Misawa, Aomori 033-0024, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Umino
- Tohoku Nuclear Co., Ltd., 2-41-14 Higashi Okamisawa, Misawa, Aomori 033-0024, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Ayabe
- Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Product Research Institute, 92-25 Nabeyashiki, Shimo-Kuriyagawa, Morioka, Iwate 020-0123, Japan
| | - Ignacia Braga Tanaka
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences (IES), 2-121 Hacchazawa, Takahoko, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039-3213, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichiro Komura
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences (IES), 2-121 Hacchazawa, Takahoko, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039-3213, Japan
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5
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Mothersill C, Cocchetto A, Seymour C. Low Dose and Non-Targeted Radiation Effects in Environmental Protection and Medicine-A New Model Focusing on Electromagnetic Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:11118. [PMID: 36232421 PMCID: PMC9570230 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of signalling in initiating and perpetuating effects triggered by deposition of ionising radiation energy in parts of a system is very clear. Less clear are the very early steps involved in converting energy to chemical and biological effects in non-targeted parts of the system. The paper aims to present a new model, which could aid our understanding of the role of low dose effects in determining ultimate disease outcomes. We propose a key role for electromagnetic signals resulting from physico-chemical processes such as excitation decay, and acoustic waves. These lead to the initiation of damage response pathways such as elevation of reactive oxygen species and membrane associated changes in key ion channels. Critically, these signalling pathways allow coordination of responses across system levels. For example, depending on how these perturbations are transduced, adverse or beneficial outcomes may predominate. We suggest that by appreciating the importance of signalling and communication between multiple levels of organisation, a unified theory could emerge. This would allow the development of models incorporating time, space and system level to position data in appropriate areas of a multidimensional domain. We propose the use of the term "infosome" to capture the nature of radiation-induced communication systems which include physical as well as chemical signals. We have named our model "the variable response model" or "VRM" which allows for multiple outcomes following exposure to low doses or to signals from low dose irradiated cells, tissues or organisms. We suggest that the use of both dose and infosome in radiation protection might open up new conceptual avenues that could allow intrinsic uncertainty to be embraced within a holistic protection framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmel Mothersill
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Alan Cocchetto
- National CFIDS Foundation, 285 Beach Ave., Hull, MA 02045-1602, USA
| | - Colin Seymour
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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6
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Klokov D, Applegate K, Badie C, Brede DA, Dekkers F, Karabulutoglu M, Le Y, Rutten EA, Lumniczky K, Gomolka M. International expert group collaboration for developing an adverse outcome pathway for radiation induced leukaemia. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1802-1815. [PMID: 36040845 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2117873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The concept of the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) has recently gained significant attention as to its potential for incorporation of mechanistic biological information into the assessment of adverse health outcomes following ionizing radiation (IR) exposure. This work is an account of the activities of an international expert group formed specifically to develop an AOP for IR-induced leukaemia. Group discussions were held during dedicated sessions at the international AOP workshop jointly organized by the MELODI (Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative) and the ALLIANCE (European Radioecology Alliance) associations to consolidate knowledge into a number of biological key events causally linked by key event relationships and connecting a molecular initiating event with the adverse outcome. Further knowledge review to generate a weight of evidence support for the Key Event Relationships (KERs) was undertaken using a systematic review approach. CONCLUSIONS An AOP for IR-induced acute myeloid leukaemia was proposed and submitted for review to the OECD-curated AOP-wiki (aopwiki.org). The systematic review identified over 500 studies that link IR, as a stressor, to leukaemia, as an adverse outcome. Knowledge gap identification, although requiring a substantial effort via systematic review of literature, appears to be one of the major added values of the AOP concept. Further work, both within this leukaemia AOP working group and other similar working groups, is warranted and is anticipated to produce highly demanded products for the radiation protection research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Klokov
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotoxicology and Radiobiology, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Kimberly Applegate
- Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine (retired), Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Christophe Badie
- Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers group, Department of Radiation Effects, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental, UK Health Security Agency, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Dag Anders Brede
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway
| | - Fieke Dekkers
- Mathematical Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Melis Karabulutoglu
- Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers group, Department of Radiation Effects, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental, UK Health Security Agency, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Eric Andreas Rutten
- Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers group, Department of Radiation Effects, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental, UK Health Security Agency, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Katalin Lumniczky
- Radiation Biology, Federal Office for Radiation Protection BfS, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Maria Gomolka
- Unit of Radiation Medicine, Department of Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, National Public Health Centre, Budapest, Hungary
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7
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Azimzadeh O, Moertl S, Ramadan R, Baselet B, Laiakis EC, Sebastian S, Beaton D, Hartikainen JM, Kaiser JC, Beheshti A, Salomaa S, Chauhan V, Hamada N. Application of radiation omics in the development of adverse outcome pathway networks: an example of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1722-1751. [PMID: 35976069 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2110325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have indicated that exposure of the heart to doses of ionizing radiation as low as 0.5 Gy increases the risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality with a latency period of decades. The damaging effects of radiation to myocardial and endothelial structures and functions have been confirmed radiobiologically at high dose, but much less is known at low dose. Integration of radiation biology and epidemiology data is a recommended approach to improve the radiation risk assessment process. The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework offers a comprehensive tool to compile and translate mechanistic information into pathological endpoints which may be relevant for risk assessment at the different levels of a biological system. Omics technologies enable the generation of large volumes of biological data at various levels of complexity, from molecular pathways to functional organisms. Given the quality and quantity of available data across levels of biology, omics data can be attractive sources of information for use within the AOP framework. It is anticipated that radiation omics studies could improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the adverse effects of radiation on the cardiovascular system. In this review, we explored the available omics studies on radiation-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and their applicability to the proposed AOP for CVD. RESULTS The results of 80 omics studies published on radiation-induced CVD over the past 20 years have been discussed in the context of the AOP of CVD proposed by Chauhan et al. Most of the available omics data on radiation-induced CVD are from proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, whereas few datasets were available from epigenomics and multi-omics. The omics data presented here show great promise in providing information for several key events of the proposed AOP of CVD, particularly oxidative stress, alterations of energy metabolism, extracellular matrix and vascular remodeling. CONCLUSIONS The omics data presented here shows promise to inform the various levels of the proposed AOP of CVD. However, the data highlight the urgent need of designing omics studies to address the knowledge gap concerning different radiation scenarios, time after exposure and experimental models. This review presents the evidence to build a qualitative omics-informed AOP and provides views on the potential benefits and challenges in using omics data to assess risk-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Azimzadeh
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Section Radiation Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Simone Moertl
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Section Radiation Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Raghda Ramadan
- Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Bjorn Baselet
- Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Evagelia C Laiakis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | | | | | - Jaana M Hartikainen
- School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, and Translational Cancer Research Area, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jan Christian Kaiser
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Radiation Medicine (HMGU-IRM), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sisko Salomaa
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Vinita Chauhan
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Tokyo 201-8511, Japan
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Kozbenko T, Adam N, Lai V, Sandhu S, Kuan J, Flores D, Appleby M, Parker H, Hocking R, Tsaioun K, Yauk C, Wilkins R, Chauhan V. Deploying elements of scoping review methods for Adverse Outcome Pathway development: A space travel case example. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1777-1788. [PMID: 35939057 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2110306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Health protection agencies require scientific information for evidence-based decision-making and guideline development. However, vetting and collating large quantities of published research to identify relevant high-quality studies is a challenge. One approach to address this issue is the use of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) that provide a framework to assemble toxicological knowledge into causally linked chains of key events across levels of biological organization to culminate in an adverse health outcome of significance. Traditionally, AOPs have been constructed using a narrative review approach where the collection of evidence that supports each pathway is based on prior knowledge of influential studies that can also be supplemented by individually selecting and reviewing relevant references. Objectives: We aimed to create a protocol for AOP weight of evidence gathering that harnesses elements of both scoping review methods and artificial intelligence tools to increase transparency while reducing bias and workload of human screeners. Methods: To develop this protocol, an existing space-health AOP in the workplan of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) AOP program was used as a case example. To balance the benefits of both scoping review tools and narrative approaches, a study protocol outlining a screening and search strategy was developed, and three reference collection workflows were tested to identify the most efficient method to inform weight of evidence. The workflows differed in their literature search strategies, and combinations of software tools used. Results: Across the three tested workflows, over 59 literature searches were completed, retrieving over 34000 references of which over 3300 were human reviewed. The most effective of the three methods used a search strategy with searches across each component of the AOP network, SWIFT Review as a pre-filtering software, and DistillerSR to create structured screening and data extraction forms. This methodology effectively retrieved relevant studies while balancing efficiency in data retrieval without compromising transparency, leading to a well-synthesized evidence base to support the AOP. Conclusions: The workflow is still exploratory in the context of AOP development, and we anticipate adaptations to the protocol with further experience. To further the systematicity, future iterations of the workflow could include structured quality assessment and risk of bias analysis. Overall, the workflow provides a transparent and unbiased approach to support AOP development, which in turn will support the need for rigorous methods to identify relevant scientific evidence while being practical to allow uptake by the broader community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Kozbenko
- Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.,University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Nadine Adam
- Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Vita Lai
- Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Hanna Parker
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | | | - Katya Tsaioun
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Carole Yauk
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
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9
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Chauhan V, Hamada N, Garnier-Laplace J, Laurier D, Beaton D, Tollefsen KE, Locke PA. Establishing a Communication and Engagement Strategy to Facilitate the Adoption of the Adverse Outcome Pathways in Radiation Research and Regulation. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1714-1721. [PMID: 35666945 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2086716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on human health and ecological effects of ionizing radiation are rapidly evolving as innovative technologies arise and the body of scientific knowledge grows. Structuring this information could effectively support the development of decision making tools and health risk models to complement current system of radiation protection. To this end, the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) approach is being explored as a means to consolidate the most relevant research to identify causation between exposure to a chemical or non-chemical stressor and disease or adverse effect progression. This tool is particularly important for low dose and low dose rate radiation exposures because of the latency and uncertainties in the biological responses at these exposure levels. To progress this aspect, it is essential to build a community of developers, facilitators, risk assessors (in the private sector and in government), policy-makers, and regulators who understand the strengths and weaknesses of, and how to appropriately utilize AOPs for consolidating our knowledge on the impact of low dose ionizing radiation. Through co-ordination with the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) High-Level Group on Low-Dose Research (HLG-LDR) and OECD's AOP Programme, initiatives are under way to demonstrate this approach in radiation research and regulation. Among these, a robust communications strategy and stakeholder engagement will be essential. It will help establish best practices for AOPs in institutional project development and aid in dissemination for more efficient and timely uptake and use of AOPs. In this regard, on June 1, 2021, the Radiation and Chemical (Rad/Chem) AOP Joint Topical Group was formed as part of the initiative from the NEA's HLG-LDR. The topical group will work to develop a communication and engagement strategy to define the target audiences, establish the clear messages and identify the delivery and engagement platforms. CONCLUSION The incorporation of the best science and better decision-making should motive the radiation protection community to develop, refine and use AOPs, recognizing that their incorporation into radiation health risk assessments is critical for public health and environmental protection in the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Dominique Laurier
- Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Health and Environment Division, Fontenay-aux-Roses, F-92262, France
| | | | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Paul A Locke
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
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10
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Ghosh A. Biological and cellular responses of humans to high-level natural radiation: A clarion call for a fresh perspective on the linear no-threshold paradigm. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2022; 878:503478. [PMID: 35649671 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There remains considerable uncertainty in obtaining risk estimates of adverse health outcomes of chronic low-dose radiation. In the absence of reliable direct data, extrapolation through the linear no-threshold (LNT) hypothesis forms the cardinal tenet of all risk assessments for low doses (≤ 100 mGy) and for the radiation protection principle of As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). However, as recent evidences demonstrate, LNT assumptions do not appropriately reflect the biology of the cell at the low-dose end of the dose-response curve. In this regard, human populations living in high-level natural radiation areas (HLNRA) of the world can provide valuable insights into the biological and cellular effects of chronic radiation to facilitate improved precision of the dose-response relationship at low doses. Here, data obtained over decades of epidemiological and radiobiological studies on HLNRA populations is summarized. These studies do not show any evidence of unfavourable health effects or adverse cellular effects that can be correlated with high-level natural radiation. Contrary to the assumptions of LNT, no excess cancer risks or untoward pregnancy outcomes have been found to be associated with cumulative radiation dose or in-utero exposures. Molecular biology-driven studies demonstrate that chronic low-dose activates several cellular defence mechanisms that help cells to sense, recover, survive, and adapt to radiation stress. These mechanisms include stress-response signaling, DNA repair, immune alterations and most importantly, the radiation-induced adaptive response. The HLNRA data is consistent with the new evolving paradigms of low-dose radiobiology and can help develop the theoretical framework of an alternate dose-response model. A rational integration of radiobiology with epidemiology data is imperative to reduce uncertainties in predicting the potential health risks of chronic low doses of radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Ghosh
- Animal House Facility & Radiation Signaling Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400 085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400 094, India.
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11
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Mothersill C, Seymour C. Low dose radiation mechanisms: The certainty of uncertainty. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2022; 876-877:503451. [PMID: 35483782 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper reviews the current understanding of low dose radiobiology, and how it has evolved from classical target theory. It highlights the uncertainty around low dose effects, which is due in part to the complexity of "context" surrounding the ultimate expression of biological effects following low dose exposure. The paper makes special reference to low dose non-targeted effects which, are currently ignored in radiation protection and population level risk assessment, because it is unclear what they mean for risk. The view of the authors is that this "lack of clarity" about what the effects mean is precisely the point. It indicates the uncertainty of outcomes after a given exposure. The uncertainty stems from multiple outcome options resulting from the intrinsic uncertainty of the stochastic interaction of low dose radiation with matter. This uncertainty should be embraced rather than eschewed. The impacts of the uncertainties identified in this paper is explored and an approach to quantifying mutation probability in relation to dose is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmel Mothersill
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - Colin Seymour
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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12
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Chauhan V, Beaton D, Hamada N, Wilkins R, Burtt J, Leblanc J, Cool D, Garnier-Laplace J, Laurier D, Le Y, Yamada Y, Tollefsen KE. Adverse Outcome Pathway: A Path towards better Data Consolidation and Global Co-ordination of Radiation Research. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 98:1694-1703. [PMID: 34919011 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.2020363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background The purpose of toxicology is to protect human health and the environment. To support this, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), operating via its Extended Advisory Group for Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (EAGMST), has been developing the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) approach to consolidate evidence for chemical toxicity spanning multiple levels of biological organization. The knowledge transcribed into AOPs provides a structured framework to transparently organize data, examine the weight of evidence of the AOP, and identify causal relationships between exposure to stressors and adverse effects of regulatory perspective. The AOP framework has undergone substantial maturation in the field of hazard characterization of chemicals over the last decade, and has also recently gained attention from the radiation community as a means to advance the mechanistic understanding of human and ecological health effects from exposure to ionizing radiation at low dose and low dose-rates. To fully exploit the value of such approaches for facilitating risk assessment and management in the field of radiation protection, solicitation of experiences and active cooperation between chemical and radiation communities are needed. As a result, the Radiation and Chemical (Rad/Chem) AOP joint topical group was formed on June 1, 2021 as part of the initiative from the High Level Group on Low Dose Research (HLG-LDR). HLG-LDR is overseen by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH). The main aims of the joint AOP topical group are to advance the use of AOPs in radiation research and foster broader implementation of AOPs into hazard and risk assessment. With global representation, it serves as a forum to discuss, identify and develop joint initiatives that support research and take on regulatory challenges. Conclusion: The Rad/Chem AOP joint topical group will specifically engage, promote, and implement the use of the AOP framework to: a) organize and evaluate mechanistic knowledge relevant to the protection of human and ecosystem health from radiation; b) identify data gaps and research needs pertinent to expanding knowledge of low dose and low dose-rate radiation effects; and c) demonstrate utility to support risk assessment by developing radiation-relevant case studies. It is envisioned that the Rad/Chem AOP joint topical group will actively liaise with the OECD EAGMST AOP developmental program to collectively advance areas of common interest and, specifically, provide recommendations for harmonization of the AOP framework to accommodate non-chemical stressors, such as radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Unit, Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ruth Wilkins
- Environmental Health Science Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie Burtt
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald Cool
- Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina, US
| | | | - Dominque Laurier
- Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Health and Environment Division, Fontenay-aux-Roses, F-92262, France
| | - Yevgeniya Le
- CANDU Owners Group Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yukata Yamada
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
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13
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Boice JD, Quinn B, Al-Nabulsi I, Ansari A, Blake PK, Blattnig SR, Caffrey EA, Cohen SS, Golden AP, Held KD, Jokisch DW, Leggett RW, Mumma MT, Samuels C, Till JE, Tolmachev SY, Yoder RC, Zhou JY, Dauer LT. A million persons, a million dreams: a vision for a national center of radiation epidemiology and biology. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 98:795-821. [PMID: 34669549 PMCID: PMC10594603 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1988183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies of radiation-exposed populations form the basis for human safety standards. They also help shape public health policy and evidence-based health practices by identifying and quantifying health risks of exposure in defined populations. For more than a century, epidemiologists have studied the consequences of radiation exposures, yet the health effects of low levels delivered at a low-dose rate remain equivocal. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Million Person Study (MPS) of U.S. Radiation Workers and Veterans was designed to examine health effects following chronic exposures in contrast with brief exposures as experienced by the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. Radiation associations for rare cancers, intakes of radionuclides, and differences between men and women are being evaluated, as well as noncancers such as cardiovascular disease and conditions such as dementia and cognitive function. The first international symposium, held November 6, 2020, provided a broad overview of the MPS. Representatives from four U.S. government agencies addressed the importance of this research for their respective missions: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The major components of the MPS were discussed and recent findings summarized. The importance of radiation dosimetry, an essential feature of each MPS investigation, was emphasized. RESULTS The seven components of the MPS are DOE workers, nuclear weapons test participants, nuclear power plant workers, industrial radiographers, medical radiation workers, nuclear submariners, other U.S. Navy personnel, and radium dial painters. The MPS cohorts include tens of thousands of workers with elevated intakes of alpha particle emitters for which organ-specific doses are determined. Findings to date for chronic radiation exposure suggest that leukemia risk is lower than after acute exposure; lung cancer risk is much lower and there is little difference in risks between men and women; an increase in ischemic heart disease is yet to be seen; esophageal cancer is frequently elevated but not myelodysplastic syndrome; and Parkinson's disease may be associated with radiation exposure. CONCLUSIONS The MPS has provided provocative insights into the possible range of health effects following low-level chronic radiation exposure. When the 34 MPS cohorts are completed and combined, a powerful evaluation of radiation-effects will be possible. This final article in the MPS special issue summarizes the findings to date and the possibilities for the future. A National Center for Radiation Epidemiology and Biology is envisioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D. Boice
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Brian Quinn
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Armin Ansari
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Steve R. Blattnig
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA
| | - Emily A. Caffrey
- Radian Scientific, LLC, Huntsville, AL, and Risk Assessment Corporation, Neeses, SC, USA
| | - Sarah S. Cohen
- EpidStrategies, a division of ToxStrategies, Inc, Cary, NC, USA
| | | | - Kathryn D. Held
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derek W. Jokisch
- Francis Marion University, Florence, SC, USA
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - Michael T. Mumma
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Joey Y. Zhou
- United States Department of Energy, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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14
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Laurier D, Rühm W, Paquet F, Applegate K, Cool D, Clement C. Areas of research to support the system of radiological protection. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2021; 60:519-530. [PMID: 34657188 PMCID: PMC8522113 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-021-00947-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This document presents the ICRP's updated vision on "Areas of Research to Support the System of Radiological Protection", which have been previously published in 2017. It aims to complement the research priorities promoted by other relevant international organisations, with the specificity of placing them in the perspective of the evolution of the System of Radiological Protection. This document contributes to the process launched by ICRP to review and revise the System of Radiological Protection that will update the 2007 General Recommendations in ICRP Publication 103.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Laurier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - W Rühm
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - F Paquet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Cadarache, France
| | - K Applegate
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - D Cool
- International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Vice-Chair, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - C Clement
- International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), Ottawa, ON, Canada
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15
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Boerma M, Davis CM, Jackson IL, Schaue D, Williams JP. All for one, though not one for all: team players in normal tissue radiobiology. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 98:346-366. [PMID: 34129427 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1941383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE As part of the special issue on 'Women in Science', this review offers a perspective on past and ongoing work in the field of normal (non-cancer) tissue radiation biology, highlighting the work of many of the leading contributors to this field of research. We discuss some of the hypotheses that have guided investigations, with a focus on some of the critical organs considered dose-limiting with respect to radiation therapy, and speculate on where the field needs to go in the future. CONCLUSIONS The scope of work that makes up normal tissue radiation biology has and continues to play a pivotal role in the radiation sciences, ensuring the most effective application of radiation in imaging and therapy, as well as contributing to radiation protection efforts. However, despite the proven historical value of preclinical findings, recent decades have seen clinical practice move ahead with altered fractionation scheduling based on empirical observations, with little to no (or even negative) supporting scientific data. Given our current appreciation of the complexity of normal tissue radiation responses and their temporal variability, with tissue- and/or organ-specific mechanisms that include intra-, inter- and extracellular messaging, as well as contributions from systemic compartments, such as the immune system, the need to maintain a positive therapeutic ratio has never been more urgent. Importantly, mitigation and treatment strategies, whether for the clinic, emergency use following accidental or deliberate releases, or reducing occupational risk, will likely require multi-targeted approaches that involve both local and systemic intervention. From our personal perspective as five 'Women in Science', we would like to acknowledge and applaud the role that many female scientists have played in this field. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before, some of whom are fellow contributors to this special issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Catherine M Davis
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Isabel L Jackson
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dörthe Schaue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jacqueline P Williams
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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16
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Hamada N, Laiakis EC, Zablotska LB, Cullings HM. Introduction to the Second Bill Morgan Memorial Special Issue: an update on low dose biology, epidemiology, its integration and implications for radiation protection. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:755-756. [PMID: 33872125 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1918972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Komae, Japan
| | - Evagelia C Laiakis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lydia B Zablotska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Harry M Cullings
- Department of Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan
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17
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Chauhan V, Wilkins RC, Beaton D, Sachana M, Delrue N, Yauk C, O’Brien J, Marchetti F, Halappanavar S, Boyd M, Villeneuve D, Barton-Maclaren TS, Meek B, Anghel C, Heghes C, Barber C, Perkins E, Leblanc J, Burtt J, Laakso H, Laurier D, Lazo T, Whelan M, Thomas R, Cool D. Bringing together scientific disciplines for collaborative undertakings: a vision for advancing the adverse outcome pathway framework. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:431-441. [PMID: 33539251 PMCID: PMC10711570 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1884314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of research to understand the impacts of various types of environmental occupational and medical stressors on human health have produced a vast amount of data across many scientific disciplines. Organizing these data in a meaningful way to support risk assessment has been a significant challenge. To address this and other challenges in modernizing chemical health risk assessment, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) formalized the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework, an approach to consolidate knowledge into measurable key events (KEs) at various levels of biological organisation causally linked to disease based on the weight of scientific evidence (http://oe.cd/aops). Currently, AOPs have been considered predominantly in chemical safety but are relevant to radiation. In this context, the Nuclear Energy Agency's (NEA's) High-Level Group on Low Dose Research (HLG-LDR) is working to improve research co-ordination, including radiological research with chemical research, identify synergies between the fields and to avoid duplication of efforts and resource investments. To this end, a virtual workshop was held on 7 and 8 October 2020 with experts from the OECD AOP Programme together with the radiation and chemical research/regulation communities. The workshop was a coordinated effort of Health Canada, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The AOP approach was discussed including key issues to fully embrace its value and catalyze implementation in areas of radiation risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS A joint chemical and radiological expert group was proposed as a means to encourage cooperation between risk assessors and an initial vision was discussed on a path forward. A global survey was suggested as a way to identify priority health outcomes of regulatory interest for AOP development. Multidisciplinary teams are needed to address the challenge of producing the appropriate data for risk assessments. Data management and machine learning tools were highlighted as a way to progress from weight of evidence to computational causal inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ruth C. Wilkins
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Delrue
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Carole Yauk
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jason O’Brien
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Francesco Marchetti
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sabina Halappanavar
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michael Boyd
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Bette Meek
- McLaughlin Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Edward Perkins
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Jackson, Vicksburg, MS, USA
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Directorate of Environment and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Julie Burtt
- Directorate of Environment and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Holly Laakso
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Dominique Laurier
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Ted Lazo
- Radiological Protection and Human Aspects of Nuclear Safety Division, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris, France
| | - Maurice Whelan
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Russell Thomas
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Donald Cool
- Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA
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