1. Activation of the Nuclear Factor κB pathway by heavy ion beams of different linear energy transfer.
- Author
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Hellweg, Christine E., Baumstark-Khan, Christa, Schmitz, Claudia, Lau, Patrick, Meier, Matthias M., Testard, Isabelle, Berger, Thomas, and Reitz, Günther
- Subjects
NF-kappa B ,ION bombardment ,ENERGY transfer ,RISK assessment ,RADIATION exposure ,GENETIC transcription ,GREEN fluorescent protein ,SPACE flight - Abstract
Purpose: Risk assessment of radiation exposure during long-term space missions requires the knowledge of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of space radiation components. Few data on gene transcription activation by different heavy ions are available, suggesting a dependence on linear energy transfer. The transcription factor Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) can be involved in cancerogenesis. Therefore, NF-κB activation by accelerated heavy ions of different linear energy transfer (LET) was correlated to survival. Materials and methods: NF-κB-dependent gene induction after exposure to heavy ions was detected in stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK-pNF-κB-d2EGFP/Neo cells carrying a neomycin resistance), using the destabilized Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (d2EGFP) as reporter. Results: Argon (LET 272 keV/μm) and neon ions (LET 91 keV/μm) had the highest potential to activate NF-κB, resulting in a RBE of 8.9 in comparison to 150 kV X-rays. The RBE for survival also reached its maximum in this LET range, with a maximal value of 2. Conclusions: NF-κB might be involved in modulating survival responses of cells hit by heavy ions in the LET range of 91-272 keV/μm and could therefore become a factor to be considered for risk assessment of radiation exposure during space travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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