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Abstract
PURPOSE Cataract (opacification of the ocular lens) is a typical tissue reaction (deterministic effect) following ionizing radiation exposure, for which prevention dose limits have been recommended in the radiation protection system. Manifestations of radiation cataracts can vary among individuals, but such potential individual responses remain uncharacterized. Here we review relevant literature and discuss implications for radiation protection. This review assesses evidence for significant modification of radiation-induced cataractogenesis by age at exposure, sex and genetic factors based on current scientific literature. CONCLUSIONS In addition to obvious physical factors (e.g. dose, dose rate, radiation quality, irradiation volume), potential factors modifying individual responses for radiation cataracts include sex, age and genetics, with comorbidity and coexposures also having important roles. There are indications and preliminary data identifying such potential modifiers of radiation cataract incidence or risk, although no firm conclusions can yet be drawn. Further studies and a consensus on the evidence are needed to gain deeper insights into factors determining individual responses regarding radiation cataracts and the implications for radiation protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G R Barnard
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Division (RCEHD), Didcot, UK
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
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Garrett J, Valluri S, Mendonca MS, Bigsby RM, Lopez J, Caperell-Grant A, Nees J, Dynlacht JR. The Protective Effect of Estrogen Against Radiation Cataractogenesis is Dependent Upon the Type of Radiation. Radiat Res 2020; 194:557-565. [PMID: 33045089 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00015.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Astronauts participating in prolonged space missions constitute a population of individuals who are at an increased risk for cataractogenesis due to exposure to densely ionizing charged particles. Using a rat model, we have previously shown that after irradiation of eyes with either low-linear energy transfer (LET) 60Co γ rays or high-LET 56Fe particles, the rate of progression of anterior and posterior subcapsular cataracts was significantly greater in ovariectomized females implanted with 17-β-estradiol (E2) compared to ovariectomized or intact rats. However, our additional low-LET studies indicated that cataractogenesis may be a modifiable late effect, since we have shown that the modulation of cataractogenesis is dependent upon the timing of administration of E2. Interestingly, we found that E2 protected against cataractogenesis induced by low-LET radiation, but only if administered after the exposure; if administered prior to and after irradiation, for the entire period of observation, then E2 enhanced progression and incidence of cataracts. Since most radioprotectors tested to date are unsuccessful in protecting against the effects of high-LET radiation, we wished to determine whether the protection mediated by E2 against radiation cataractogenesis induced by low-LET radiation would also be observed after high-LET irradiation. Female 56-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with E2 at various times relative to the time of single-eye irradiation with 2 Gy of 56Fe ions. We found that administration of E2 before irradiation and throughout the lifetime of the rat enhanced cataractogenesis compared to ovariectomized animals. The enhancing effect was slightly reduced when estrogen was removed after irradiation. However, in contrast to what we observed after γ-ray irradiation, there was no inhibition of cataractogenesis if E2 was administered only after 56Fe-ion irradiation. We conclude that protection against cataractogenesis by estrogen is dependent upon the type and ionization density of radiation that the lens was exposed to. The lack of inhibition of radiation cataractogenesis in rats that receive E2 treatment after high-LET irradiation may be attributed to the qualitative differences in the types of DNA damage induced with high-LET radiation compared to low-LET radiation or how damage may be modified at the DNA or tissue level after irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Garrett
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Shailaja Valluri
- Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Marc S Mendonca
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Robert M Bigsby
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Jennifer Lopez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Andrea Caperell-Grant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Jessica Nees
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Joseph R Dynlacht
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
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Richardson RB, Ainsbury EA, Prescott CR, Lovicu FJ. Etiology of posterior subcapsular cataracts based on a review of risk factors including aging, diabetes, and ionizing radiation. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 96:1339-1361. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1812759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard B. Richardson
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Chalk River, Canada
- McGill University’s Medical Physics Unit, Cedars Cancer Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A. Ainsbury
- Public Health England’s Centre for Chemical, Radiological and Environmental Hazards, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Frank J. Lovicu
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Risk of various types of cataracts in a cohort of Mayak workers following chronic occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. Eur J Epidemiol 2018; 33:1193-1204. [DOI: 10.1007/s10654-018-0450-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Hamada N, Sato T. Cataractogenesis following high-LET radiation exposure. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2016; 770:262-291. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Ainsbury EA, Barnard S, Bright S, Dalke C, Jarrin M, Kunze S, Tanner R, Dynlacht JR, Quinlan RA, Graw J, Kadhim M, Hamada N. Ionizing radiation induced cataracts: Recent biological and mechanistic developments and perspectives for future research. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2016; 770:238-261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Kennedy AR. Biological Effects of Space Radiation and Development of Effective Countermeasures. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2014; 1:10-43. [PMID: 25258703 PMCID: PMC4170231 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
As part of a program to assess the adverse biological effects expected from astronaut exposure to space radiation, numerous different biological effects relating to astronaut health have been evaluated. There has been major focus recently on the assessment of risks related to exposure to solar particle event (SPE) radiation. The effects related to various types of space radiation exposure that have been evaluated are: gene expression changes (primarily associated with programmed cell death and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling), oxidative stress, gastrointestinal tract bacterial translocation and immune system activation, peripheral hematopoietic cell counts, emesis, blood coagulation, skin, behavior/fatigue (including social exploration, submaximal exercise treadmill and spontaneous locomotor activity), heart functions, alterations in biological endpoints related to astronaut vision problems (lumbar puncture/intracranial pressure, ocular ultrasound and histopathology studies), and survival, as well as long-term effects such as cancer and cataract development. A number of different countermeasures have been identified that can potentially mitigate or prevent the adverse biological effects resulting from exposure to space radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann R Kennedy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6072
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Dynlacht JR. The role of age, sex and steroid sex hormones in radiation cataractogenesis. Radiat Res 2013; 180:559-66. [PMID: 24261552 DOI: 10.1667/rr13549.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
It is critical to identify and gain a better understanding of the factors that enhance or reduce the risk of cataractogenesis, to minimize the possibility of occurrence after deliberate (e.g., radiation therapy, interplanetary travel) or unintentional exposure to ionizing radiation. Both gender and age at the time of exposure have been established as key determinants of cataractogenesis induced by sparsely ionizing (low-LET) and densely ionizing (high-LET) radiation. However, animal data from several older studies are often conflicting and somewhat difficult to interpret, in that the experiments suffered from small group sizes, limited dose ranges or short periods of observation, and human data are sparse or statistical significance is sometimes limited. Steroid sex hormones (SSH) may underlie age and gender-based differences in the progression and prevalence of cataracts that otherwise occur spontaneously in humans and animal models, and may also underlie age and sex-related differences in radiation cataractogenesis. Here, we review data that have aided in our understanding of the role of age, sex and steroid sex hormones in radiation cataractogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Dynlacht
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
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Dynlacht JR, Valluri S, Garrett J, Nees J, Caperell-Grant A, DesRosiers C, Bigsby RM. Age and Hormonal Status as Determinants of Cataractogenesis Induced by Ionizing Radiation. II. Sparsely Ionizing (Low-LET) Radiation. Radiat Res 2012; 178:260-5. [DOI: 10.1667/rr2843.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abdelkawi S. Lens crystallin response to whole body irradiation with single and fractionated doses of gamma radiation. Int J Radiat Biol 2012; 88:600-6. [DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2012.695097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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