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Leung CT, Yang Y, Yu KN, Tam N, Chan TF, Lin X, Kong RYC, Chiu JMY, Wong AST, Lui WY, Yuen KWY, Lai KP, Wu RSS. Low-Dose Radiation Can Cause Epigenetic Alterations Associated With Impairments in Both Male and Female Reproductive Cells. Front Genet 2021; 12:710143. [PMID: 34408775 PMCID: PMC8365519 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.710143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are regularly and continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from both natural and artificial sources. Cumulating evidence shows adverse effects of ionizing radiation on both male and female reproductive systems, including reduction of testis weight and sperm count and reduction of female germ cells and premature ovarian failure. While most of the observed effects were caused by DNA damage and disturbance of DNA repairment, ionizing radiation may also alter DNA methylation, histone, and chromatin modification, leading to epigenetic changes and transgenerational effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the epigenetic changes and transgenerational reproductive impairment induced by low-dose radiation remain largely unknown. In this study, two different types of human ovarian cells and two different types of testicular cells were exposed to low dose of ionizing radiation, followed by bioinformatics analysis (including gene ontology functional analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis), to unravel and compare epigenetic effects and pathway changes in male and female reproductive cells induced by ionizing radiation. Our findings showed that the radiation could alter the expression of gene cluster related to DNA damage responses through the control of MYC. Furthermore, ionizing radiation could lead to gender-specific reproductive impairment through deregulation of different gene networks. More importantly, the observed epigenetic modifications induced by ionizing radiation are mediated through the alteration of chromatin remodeling and telomere function. This study, for the first time, demonstrated that ionizing radiation may alter the epigenome of germ cells, leading to transgenerational reproductive impairments, and correspondingly call for research in this new emerging area which remains almost unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Tim Leung
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Yi Yang
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Kwan Ngok Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Nathan Tam
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Ting Fung Chan
- School of Life Sciences, Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Richard Yuen Chong Kong
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Jill Man Ying Chiu
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tsai, Hong Kong
| | - Alice Sze Tsai Wong
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Wing Yee Lui
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Wing Yee Yuen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Keng Po Lai
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Rudolf Shiu Sun Wu
- Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Hong Kong, China.,State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.,Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
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Ishibashi JR, Taslim TH, Ruohola-Baker H. Germline stem cell aging in the Drosophila ovary. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 37:57-62. [PMID: 32120010 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The age-related decline of adult stem cells leads to loss of tissue homeostasis and contributes to organismal aging. Though the phenotypic hallmarks of aging are well-characterized at the organ or tissue level, the molecular processes that govern stem cell aging remain unclear. This review seeks to highlight recent research in stem cell aging in the Drosophila ovary and connect the discoveries in the fly to ongoing questions in stem cell aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Roy Ishibashi
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican St, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
| | - Tommy Henry Taslim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican St, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican St, Seattle, WA 98109, United States.
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