Modelling Cellular Response to Ionizing Radiation: Mechanistic, Semi-Mechanistic, and Phenomenological Approaches - A Historical Perspective

Radiation research is a multidisciplinary field, and among its many branches, mathematical and computational modelers have played a significant role in advancing boundaries of knowledge. A fundamental contribution is modelling cellular response to ionizing radiation as that is the key to not only understanding how radiation can kill cancer cells, but also cause cancer and other health issues. The invention of microdosimetry in the 1950s by Harold Rossi paved the way for brilliant scientists to study the mechanism of radiation at cellular and sub-cellular scales. This paper reviews some snippets of ingenious mathematical and computational models published in microdosimetry symposium proceedings and publications of the radiation research community. Among these are simulations of radiation tracks at atomic and molecular levels using Monte Carlo methods, models of cell survival, quantification of the amount of energy required to create a single strand break, and models of DNA-damage-repair. These models can broadly be categorized into mechanistic, semi-mechanistic, and phenomenological approaches, and this review seeks to provide historical context of their development. We salute pioneers of the field and great teachers who supported and educated the younger members of the community and showed them how to build upon their work.

Technical Report: A Simple and Robust Real-Time Quantitative PCR Method for the Detection of Radiation-Induced Multiple Exon Deletions of the Human HPRT Gene

The hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) mutation assay has been widely used to investigate gene mutations induced by radiation. Here, we developed a novel method detecting deletions of multiple exons of the HPRT gene based on real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Immortalized normal human fibroblasts (BJ1-hTERT) were irradiated at various doses with γ rays, subjected to the 6-thioguanine (6-TG) selection, and more than one hundred 6-TG-resistant (6-TGR) clones were isolated. High-molecular-weight genomic DNA was extracted, and real-time qPCR was performed with the nine exon-specific primers. Optimization of the primer concentration, appropriate selection of PCR enzyme and refinement of the reaction profiles enabled simultaneous quantitative amplification of each exon. We were able to identify 6-TGR clones with total deletions, which did not show any amplification of the nine exons, and partial deletion mutants, in which one or some of the nine exons were missing, within a few days. This novel technique allows systematic determination of multiple deletions of the HPRT exons induced by ionizing radiation, enabling high-throughput and robust analysis of multiple HPRT mutants.

Molecular Configuration of Human Genome Neighboring Megabase-Sized Large Deletions Induced by X-Ray Irradiation

The genomic landscape neighboring large deletions including the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) locus on human X chromosome in 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants originating from immortalized human fibroblast cells exposed to X rays was characterized by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based analyses. Among the 13 mutant clones with large deletions extending over several Mb, including the HPRT locus, revealed by 10 conventional sequence-tagged site (STS) markers, three clones bearing the largest deletions were selected for further qPCR analysis using another 21 STS markers and 15 newly designed PCR primer pairs. The results indicated that the major deletions were in very specific regions between the 130-Mb and 140-Mb positions containing the HPRT locus on the X chromosome and, contrary to our initial expectations, additional minor deletions were distributed in a patchwork pattern. These findings strongly indicate that the complex deletion patterns in the affected chromosome are related to the radiation track structure with spatially heterogeneous energy deposition and the specific structure of the chromatin-nuclear membrane complex. The uncovered complex deletion patterns are in agreement with the idea of complex chromatin damage, which is frequently associated with carcinogenesis.

The linear No-Threshold (LNT) dose response model: A comprehensive assessment of its historical and scientific foundations

The linear no-threshold (LNT) single-hit (SH) dose response model for cancer risk assessment is comprehensively assessed with respect to its historical foundations. This paper also examines how mistakes, ideological biases, and scientific misconduct by key scientists affected the acceptance, validity, and applications of the LNT model for cancer risk assessment. In addition, the analysis demonstrates that the LNT single-hit model was inappropriately adopted for governmental risk assessment, regulatory policy, practices, and for risk communication.

From Muller to mechanism: How LNT became the default model for cancer risk assessment

This paper summarizes the historical and scientific foundations of the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) cancer risk assessment model. The story of cancer risk assessment is an extraordinary one as it was based on an initial incorrect gene mutation interpretation of Muller, the application of this incorrect assumption in the derivation of the LNT single-hit model, and a series of actions by leading radiation geneticists during the 1946-1956 period, including a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation (BEAR) I Genetics Panel (Anonymous, 1956), to sustain the LNT belief via a series of deliberate obfuscations, deceptions and misrepresentations that provided the basis of modern cancer risk assessment policy and practices. The reaffirming of the LNT model by a subsequent and highly influential NAS Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) I Committee (NAS/NRC, 1972) using mouse data has now been found to be inappropriate based on the discovery of a significant documented error in the historical control group that led to incorrect estimations of risk in the low dose zone. Correction of this error by the original scientists and the application of the adjusted/corrected data back to the BEIR I (NAS/NRC, 1972) report indicates that the data would have supported a threshold rather than the LNT model. Thus, cancer risk assessment has a poorly appreciated, complex and seriously flawed history that has undermined policies and practices of regulatory agencies in the U.S. and worldwide to the present time.

Flaws in the LNT single-hit model for cancer risk: An historical assessment

The LNT single-hit model was derived from the Nobel Prize-winning research of Herman J. Muller who showed that x-rays could induce gene mutations in Drosophila and that the dose response for these so-called mutational events was linear. Lewis J. Stadler, another well-known and respected geneticist at the time, strongly disagreed with and challenged Muller's claims. Detailed evaluations by Stadler over a prolonged series of investigations revealed that Muller's experiments had induced gross heritable chromosomal damage instead of specific gene mutations as had been claimed by Muller at his Nobel Lecture. These X-ray-induced alterations became progressively more frequent and were of larger magnitude (more destructive) with increasing doses. Thus, Muller's claim of having induced discrete gene mutations represented a substantial speculative overreach and was, in fact, without proof. The post hoc arguments of Muller to support his gene mutation hypothesis were significantly challenged and weakened by a series of new findings in the areas of cytogenetics, reverse mutation, adaptive and repair processes, and modern molecular methods for estimating induced genetic damage. These findings represented critical and substantial limitations to Muller's hypothesis of X-ray-induced gene mutations. Furthermore, they challenged the scientific foundations used in support of the LNT single-hit model by severing the logical nexus between Muller's data on radiation-induced inheritable alterations and the LNT single-hit model. These findings exposed fundamental scientific flaws that undermined not only the seminal recommendation of the 1956 BEAR I Genetics Panel to adopt the LNT single-hit Model for risk assessment but also any rationale for its continued use in the present day.

The effect of low-dose exposure on germline microsatellite mutation rates in humans accidentally exposed to caesium-137 in Goiânia

A serious radiological accident occurred in 1987 in Goiânia, Brazil, which lead to extensive human and environmental contamination as a result of ionising radiation (IR) from caesium-137. Among the exposed were those in direct contact with caesium-137, their relatives, neighbours, liquidators and health personnel involved in the handling of the radioactive material and the clean-up of the radioactive sites. The exposed group consisted of 10 two-generation families, totalling 34 people. For each exposed family, at least one of the progenitors was directly exposed to very low doses of γ-IR. The control group consisted of 215 non-irradiated families, composed of a father, mother and child, all of them from Goiânia, Brazil. Genomic DNA was purified using 100 μl of whole blood. The amplification reactions were prepared according to PowerPlex® 16, following the manufacturer's instructions. Genetic profiles were obtained from a single polymerase chain reaction amplification. The exposed group had only one germline mutation of a paternal origin in the 'locus' D8S1179 and the observed mutation presented a gain of only one repeat unit. In the control group, 11 mutations were observed and the mutational events were distributed in five loci D16S539, D3S1358, FGA, Penta E and D21S11. The mutation rates for the exposed and control groups were 0.006 and 0.002, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.09) between the mutation rate of the exposed and control groups. In conclusion, the quantification of mutational events in short tandem repeats can provide a useful system for detecting induced mutations in a relatively small population.

Role of Ku80-dependent end-joining in delayed genomic instability in mammalian cells surviving ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation induces delayed destabilization of the genome in the progenies of surviving cells. This phenomenon, which is called radiation-induced genomic instability, is manifested by delayed induction of radiation effects, such as cell death, chromosome aberration, and mutation in the progeny of cells surviving radiation exposure. Previously, there was a report showing that delayed cell death was absent in Ku80-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, however, the mechanism of their defect has not been determined. We found that delayed induction of DNA double strand breaks and chromosomal breaks were intact in Ku80-deficient cells surviving X-irradiation, whereas there was no sign for the production of chromosome bridges between divided daughter cells. Moreover, delayed induction of dicentric chromosomes was significantly compromised in those cells compared to the wild-type CHO cells. Reintroduction of the human Ku86 gene complimented the defective DNA repair and recovered delayed induction of dicentric chromosomes and delayed cell death, indicating that defective Ku80-dependent dicentric induction was the cause of the absence of delayed cell death. Since DNA-PKcs-defective cells showed delayed phenotypes, Ku80-dependent illegitimate rejoining is involved in delayed impairment of the integrity of the genome in radiation-survived cells.

Long-term persistence of X-ray-induced genomic instability in quiescent normal human diploid cells

Ionizing radiation can induce genomic instability in the progeny of irradiated cells, as was demonstrated in various experimental systems. Most in vitro studies have utilized replicating cells, but it is not clear whether radiation-induced genomic instability persists in quiescent cells. Here we show the induction of X-ray-induced genomic instability in normal human diploid cells irradiated and maintained in a quiescent state for up to 24 months while cells were subcultured approximately once every 2-3 months. Every 12 months, a fraction of the irradiated cell population was stimulated to divide by culturing at a low density, and we found that these cells showed increased frequencies of phosphorylated ATM foci, decreased colony-forming ability, and increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations. No significant increases in ROS levels were detected in long-term cultured cells. These results suggest that there are ROS-independent mechanism(s) induced by radiation, which can generate persistent delayed effects in quiescent cells, and could ultimately contribute to carcinogenesis.