Joint research towards a better radiation protection-highlights of the Fifth MELODI Workshop.

MELODI is the European platform dedicated to low-dose radiation risk research. From 7 October through 10 October 2013 the Fifth MELODI Workshop took place in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop offered the opportunity to 221 unique participants originating from 22 countries worldwide to update their knowledge and discuss radiation research issues through 118 oral and 44 poster presentations. In addition, the MELODI 2013 workshop was reaching out to the broader radiation protection community, rather than only the low-dose community, with contributions from the fields of radioecology, emergency and recovery preparedness, and dosimetry. In this review, we summarise the major scientific conclusions of the workshop, which are important to keep the MELODI strategic research agenda up-to-date and which will serve to establish a joint radiation protection research roadmap for the future.

520-d Isolation and confinement simulating a flight to Mars reveals heightened immune responses and alterations of leukocyte phenotype.

During interplanetary exploration, chronic stress caused by long term isolation and confinement in the spacecraft is one of the major concerns of physical and psychological health of space travelers. And for human on Earth, more and more people live in an isolated condition, which has become a common social problem in modern western society. Collective evidences have indicated prolonged chronic stress could bring big influence to human immune function, which may lead to a variety of health problems. However, to what extent long-term isolation can affect the immune system still remains largely unknow. A simulated 520-d Mars mission provided an extraordinary chance to study the effect of prolonged isolation. Six healthy males participated in this mission and their active neuroendocrine and immune conditions were studied with saliva and blood samples from all participants on chosen time points during the isolation period. As a typical neuroendocrine parameter, stress hormone cortisol was measured in the morning saliva samples. Immune phenotype changes were monitored through peripheral leukocyte phenotype analysis. Using an ex vivo viral infection simulation assay we assessed the immune response changes characterized by the ability to produce representative endogenous pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results of this study revealed elevated cortisol levels, increased lymphocyte amount and heightened immune responses, suggesting that prolonged isolation acting as chronic stressors are able to trigger leukocyte phenotype changes and poorly controlled immune responses.

Biological carrier molecules of radiopharmaceuticals for molecular cancer imaging and targeted cancer therapy.

Many tumors express one or more proteins that are either absent or hardly present in normal tissues, and which can be targeted by radiopharmaceuticals for either visualization of tumor cells or for targeted therapy. Radiopharmaceuticals can consist of a radionuclide and a carrier molecule that interacts with the tumor target and as such guides the attached radionuclide to the right spot. Radiopharmaceuticals hold great promise for the future of oncology by providing early, precise diagnosis and better, personalized treatment. Most advanced developments with marketed products are based on whole antibodies or antibody fragments as carrier molecules. However, a substantial number of (pre)clinical studies indicate that radiopharmaceuticals based on other carrier molecules, such as peptides, nonimmunoglobulin scaffolds, or nucleic acids may be valuable alternatives. In this review, we discuss the biological molecules that can deliver radionuclide payloads to tumor cells in terms of their structure, the selection procedure, their (pre)clinical status, and advantages or obstacles to their use in a radiopharmaceutical design. We also consider the plethora of molecular targets existing on cancer cells that can be targeted by radiopharmaceuticals, as well as how to select a radionuclide for a given diagnostic or therapeutic product.

Transgenerational developmental effects and genomic instability after X-irradiation of preimplantation embryos: studies on two mouse strains.

Recent results have shown that irradiation of a single cell, the zygote or 1-cell embryo of various mouse strains, could lead to congenital anomalies in the fetuses. In the Heiligenberger strain, a link between the radiation-induced congenital anomalies and the development of a genomic instability was also suggested. Moreover, further studies showed that in that strain, both congenital anomalies and genomic instability could be transmitted to the next generation. The aim of the experiments described in this paper was to investigate whether such non-targeted transgenerational effects could also be observed in two other radiosensitive mouse strains (CF1 and ICR), using lower radiation doses. Irradiation of the CF1 and ICR female zygotes with 0.2 or 0.4Gy did not result in a decrease of their fertility after birth, when they had reached sexual maturity. Moreover, females of both strains that had been X-irradiated with 0.2Gy exhibited higher rates of pregnancy, less resorptions and more living fetuses. Additionally, the mean weight of living fetuses in these groups had significantly increased. Exencephaly and dwarfism were observed in CF1 fetuses issued from control and X-irradiated females. In the control group of that strain, polydactyly and limb deformity were also found. The yields of abnormal fetuses did not differ significantly between the control and X-irradiated groups. Polydactyly, exencephaly and dwarfism were observed in fetuses issued from ICR control females. In addition to these anomalies, gastroschisis, curly tail and open eye were observed at low frequencies in ICR fetuses issued from X-irradiated females. Again, the frequencies of abnormal fetuses found in the different groups did not differ significantly. In both CF1 and ICR mouse strains, irradiation of female zygotes did not result in the development of a genomic instability in the next generation embryos. Overall, our results suggest that, at the moderate doses used, developmental defects observed after X-irradiation of female zygotes of these two sensitive mouse strains should not be transmitted to the next generation. Paradoxically, other studies would be needed to address the question of a potential increase of fertility after doses lower than 0.2Gy in both strains.

Controlled light exposure microscopy reveals dynamic telomere microterritories throughout the cell cycle.

Telomeres are complex end structures that confer functional integrity and positional stability to human chromosomes. Despite their critical importance, there is no clear view on telomere organization in cycling human cells and their dynamic behavior throughout the cell cycle. We investigated spatiotemporal organization of telomeres in living human ECV-304 cells stably expressing telomere binding proteins TRF1 and TRF2 fused to mCitrine using four dimensional microscopy. We thereby made use of controlled light exposure microscopy (CLEM), a novel technology that strongly reduces photodamage by limiting excitation in parts of the image where full exposure is not needed. We found that telomeres share small territories where they dynamically associate. These territories are preferentially positioned at the interface of chromatin domains. TRF1 and TRF2 are abundantly present in these territories but not firmly bound. At the onset of mitosis, the bulk of TRF protein dissociates from telomere regions, territories disintegrate and individual telomeres become faintly visible. The combination of stable cell lines, CLEM and cytometry proved essential in providing novel insights in compartment-based nuclear organization and may serve as a model approach for investigating telomere-driven genome-instability and studying long-term nuclear dynamics.

Physiological changes induced in four bacterial strains following oxidative stress.

In order to study the behaviour and resistance of bacteria under extreme conditions, physiological changes associated with oxidative stress were monitored using flow cytometry. The study was conducted to assess the maintenance of membrane integrity and potential as well as the esterase activity, the intracellular pH and the production of superoxide anions in four bacterial strains (Ralstonia metallidurans, Escherichia coli, Shewanella oneidensis and Deinococcus radiodurans). The strains were chosen for their potential usefulness in bioremediation. Suspensions of R. metallidurans, E. coli, S. oneidensis and D. radiodurans were submitted to 1 h oxidative stress (H2O2 at various concentrations from 0 to 880 mM). Cell membrane permeability (propidium iodide) and potential (rhodamine-123, 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide), intracellular esterase activity (fluorescein diacetate), intracellular reactive oxygen species concentration (hydroethidine) and intracellular pH (carboxyflurorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (5(6)) were monitored to evaluate the physiological state and the overall fitness of individual bacterial cells under oxidative stress. The four bacterial strains exhibited varying sensitivities towards H2O2. However, for all bacterial strains, some physiological damage could already be observed from 13.25 mM H2O2 onwards, in particular with regard to their membrane permeability. Depending on the bacterial strains, moderate to high physiological damage could be observed between 13.25 mM and 220 mM H2O2. Membrane potential, esterase activity, intracellular pH and production of superoxide anion production were considerably modified at high H2O2 concentrations in all four strains. In conclusion, we show that a range of significant physiological alterations occurs when bacteria are challenged with H2O2 and fluorescent staining methods coupled with flow cytometry are useful for monitoring the changes induced not only by oxidative stress but also by other stresses like temperature, radiation, pressure, pH, etc....

Induction of three-dimensional assembly and increase in apoptosis of human endothelial cells by simulated microgravity: impact of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Endothelial cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and are highly sensitive to low gravity conditions. Using a three-dimensional random positioning machine (clinostat) we investigated effects of simulated weightlessness on the human EA.hy926 cell line (4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) and addressed the impact of exposure to VEGF (10 ng/ml). Simulated microgravity resulted in an increase in extracellular matrix proteins (ECMP) and altered cytoskeletal components such as microtubules (alpha-tubulin) and intermediate filaments (cytokeratin). Within the initial 4 h, both simulated microgravity and VEGF, alone, enhanced the expression of ECMP (collagen type I, fibronectin, osteopontin, laminin) and flk-1 protein. Synergistic effects between microgravity and VEGF were not seen. After 12 h, microgravity further enhanced all proteins mentioned above. Moreover, clinorotated endothelial cells showed morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis after 4 h, which were further increased after 72 h. VEGF significantly attenuated apoptosis as demonstrated by DAPI staining, TUNEL flow cytometry and electron microscopy. Caspase-3, Bax, Fas, and 85-kDa apoptosis-related cleavage fragments were clearly reduced by VEGF. After 72 h, most surviving endothelial cells had assembled to three-dimensional tubular structures. Simulated weightlessness induced apoptosis and increased the amount of ECMP. VEGF develops a cell-protective influence on endothelial cells exposed to simulated microgravity.

Cytometric methods to analyze radiation effects.

Here, we review the most relevant cytometric methods currently used to analyze ionizing radiation effects. Particular interest has been devoted to the following methods: chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus assay, fluorescence in situ hybridization chromosome painting, comet assay, comet-FISH assay as well as flow cytometry.

Space flight effects on bacterial physiology.

The study of bacterial behavior under space flight conditions is highly important for the early detection of changes in bacterial communities and bacteria with medical, environmental, or life support consequences for survival of the crew in closed space environments. Although many species of prokaryotes have been studied in ground simulation facilities or have been flown in space flights, at present only few hard research data are available to predict the effects of cosmic radiation, microgravity, vibration and hypervelocity on microbial behavior in space flight. The results that are available tend to be fragmentary and often lack a classical, controlled experimental context to interpret them. Thus, many basic questions concerning the effects of space on microbial behavior have yet to be resolved.

Effect of curcuma on radiation-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells.

There have been considerable efforts to search for naturally occurring substances for the intervention of carcinogenesis. Many components from dietary or medicinal plants have been identified that possess substantial chemopreventive properties. Curcuma, a yellow pigment from Curcuma longa, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidative properties. Although its precise mode of action has not been elucidated so far, studies have shown that chemopreventive action of curcuma might be due to its ability to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. This original study was conducted in order to estimate whether curcuma enhances the radiation sensitivity of cancer cells. For this purpose, curcuma (concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 microM) was applied to human cancer cell cultures (HeLa, K-562 and IM-9) with or without X-irradiation (doses comprised between 0 and 8 Gy). Cell proliferation was monitored by trypan blue exclusion. For the estimation of apoptosis, changes in cell morphology and flow cytometry analysis (DNA content and presence of the sub-G1 peak) were performed. Microscopic examination of the curcuma-treated cells (with concentrations above 100 microM) showed a characteristic morphology of apoptosis. Furthermore, cells treated with curcuma exhibited a sub-G1 peak from which the magnitude was proportional to the concentration of curcuma. X-irradiation alone induced polyploidisation and apoptosis of the three cell lines, proportional to the doses of irradiation with a marked difference in radiation sensitivity between the cell lines (IM-9 < K-562 < HELA). However, when radiation and curcuma were applied together, our results showed that in HELA, K-562 and IM-9, curcuma showed a radiation sensitising effect only at the dose of 200 micro M. This result may open a perspective of synergical therapy at the condition to also address the intrinsic toxicity of curcuma on normal cells.

Mouse one-cell embryos undergoing a radiation-induced G2 arrest may re-enter S-phase in the absence of cytokinesis.

PCC (premature chromosome condensation) can be used for visualizing and scoring damage induced by radiation in the chromatin of cells undergoing a G1 or G2 arrest. A method involving the fusion of irradiated single embryonic cells with single MI oocytes was used to induce PCC in mouse zygotes of the BALB/c strain, which suffer a drastic G2 arrest after X-irradiation (dose used 2.5 Gy). Other G2-arrested embryos were exposed in vitro to the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A. Both methods furnished excellent chromosome preparations of the G2-arrested embryos. The mean number of chromosome fragments did not change significantly during G2 arrest, suggesting that zygotes of this strain are unable to repair DNA damage leading to such aberrations. Forty to fifty percent of the irradiated embryos were unable to cleave after G2 arrest and remained blocked at the one-cell stage for a few days before dying. PCC preparations obtained from such embryos suggested that about 30% of them had undergone a late mitosis not followed by cytokinesis and had entered a new DNA synthesis. These results are discussed in the light of recent observations in irradiated human cells deficient in the p53/14-3-3sigma pathway.

Radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in guinea-pig growing oocytes, and their relation to follicular atresia.

The female guinea-pig has been shown to represent a good model to investigate the genetic hazard of ionizing radiation in humans. The sensitivity of the guinea-pig oocytes to radiation-induced chromosome aberrations was, therefore, studied at different stages of oocyte and follicular growth. The sensitivity of oocytes enclosed in small follicles (15 weeks before ovulation) was found to be low and comparable to that of immature oocytes present at birth. The sensitivity of growing oocytes remained low and almost constant until 3 weeks before ovulation, from which time it began to increase. The most dramatic increase of sensitivity occurred during the last week preceding ovulation: about 90% of oocytes X-irradiated with 4Gy, 2 days before ovulation showed one or more chromatid interchanges, as compared to 20% for those irradiated with the same dose 1 week earlier. A comparison of our results with those found by others in the mouse shows that considerable differences of sensitivity exist between oocytes of these two species irradiated at similar stages of development. The possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

Molecular basis to understand polyploidy.

Polyploidy which is defined as an increase in chromosome number by an exact multiple of the haploid chromosome number is a typical characteristic of plant species but can also be found in almost all organisms from protists to humans. In the plant kingdom, since the reproduction can occur vegetatively, polyploid cells have time to settle down from the evolution point of view as a stable genetic system. So, 30 to 70% of angiosperms, including many important crop plants, are estimated to have polyploidy in their lineages. The success of polyploid species in plants has been attributed to their ability to colonise a wider range of habitats and to survive better in unstable climates compared with their diploid progenitors, presumably due to increased heterozygosity and flexibility provided by the presence of additional alleles.

Histone H1 kinase activity in one-cell mouse embryos blocked in the G2 phase by X-irradiation.

The activation of the p34cdc2/cyclin B complex is responsible for driving the cell cycle from the G2- to the M-phase. To investigate the effects of irradiation on the activity of the p34cdc2/cyclin B complex in preimplantation embryos, we irradiated one-cell mouse embryos with 2.5 Gy of X-rays at the early pronuclear stage, and measured the fluctuations of histone H1 kinase activity (a biochemical indicator of the kinase activity of the p34cdc2) at different times during the radiation-induced G2-arrest. BALB/c embryos were chosen for these experiments, since earlier results obtained in our laboratory had shown that such a treatment induces a G2-arrest of about 20 hours in more than 90% of the embryos. Our data showed that histone H1 kinase activity of irradiated embryos remained at a very low level during the period of G2-arrest. The level of activity found during late division of the G2-arrested embryos was also significantly lower in comparison with that of control embryos or irradiated embryos dividing without delay. All together, our results suggest that a) low levels of histone H1 kinase activity are sufficient for the division of one-cell embryos, b) there could be a link between the levels of histone H1 kinase activity in mitosis and the health status of the embryo.

Protein content and number of nucleolar organizer regions are enhanced during phorbol ester-induced differentiation of cultured human megakaryocytic cells.

In order to investigate the protein synthesis in megakaryocyte polyploidization, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 5 x 10(-9) M), a differentiation marker known to induce megakaryocyte polyploidization, was added to human megakaryocytic cell lines (DAMI, HEL and K562) and the expression of platelet/megakaryocytic integrins, the numbers of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and the total protein content were estimated. Following exposure of PMA, the expression of the platelet membrane glycoprotein GPIIIa and thrombospondin and transferrin receptors was augmented in the three cell lines. The number of AgNORs shifted from 16.4 +/- 4.3, 24.4 +/- 2.5 and 13.6 +/- 3.1 for unstimulated cells to 20.0 +/- 5.3, 38.7 +/- 7.9 and 16.8 +/- 2.3 for PMA-treated DAMI, HEL and K562 cells, respectively. Furthermore, after treatment with PMA, the numbers of AgNORs clusters or nucleoles increased significantly to 179%, 238% and 154% of controls in DAMI, HEL and K562 cell lines, respectively. Finally, addition of PMA culture for four days, significantly increased the protein contents to 153%, 171% and 254% of controls for DAMI, HEL and K562 cell lines, respectively (p < 0.05 by t-test). In conclusion, the increase in the total protein content and in the number of AgNORs by PMA, suggests that PMA-induced-megakaryocyte polyploidization occurs by enhanced protein production.

The G and F contents in megakaryocyte cell lines after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate.

Megakaryocyte polyploidization responds to platelet demand and results from the lack of cytoplasmic separation while the nucleus keeps dividing. In order to investigate the role of actin in the megakaryocyte polyploidization, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 5 x 10(-9) M), a differentiation marker known to induce megakaryocyte polyploidization, was added to human megakaryocytic cell lines (DAMI and HEL) and G, F and total actins were estimated by DNase I inhibition. After four days of culture in the presence of PMA, G actin contents in pg per 10(6) cells were 13.0 pg +/- 2.8 and 1.0 pg +/- 0.1 for unstimulated DAMI and HEL cells. F actin contents per 10(6) cells were 5.8 pg +/- 1.5 and 0.1 pg +/- 0.0 for DAMI and HEL cells. Addition of PMA for four days to culture significantly increased G actin contents (235% and 268% of controls) and F actin contents (234% and 394%), for DAMI and HEL cell lines, respectively (p < 0.05 by t-test). In contrast, G/F actin ratio was not affected (p < 0.05 by t-test) by PMA. DAMI cells from each ploidy classes were then sorted on an ELITE Coulter and assayed for actin content. While total actin, G actin and F actin per cell increased in polyploid cells cultured with PMA, there was a reduction in G, F and total actin contents per diploid equivalent when cells became polyploid. In conclusion, megakaryocyte polyploidization of these cell lines is not related to an unbalance between G and F actins but would be rather due at least partly to a defect in total actin production that could lead to a prevention of the formation of the constriction ring in telophase.

Histone H1 kinase activity in ovulated oocytes.

The level of kinase activity of cdkl is known to be high during metaphase of the two meioses. In this experiment, histone H1 kinase activity (which is known to reflect cdk1 activity) was assayed in BALB/c mouse ovulated oocytes at various timepoints after ovulation. Histone H1 kinase activity in ovulated oocytes was stable up to 37 hours after ovulation. After that time, histone H1 kinase activity significantly decreased suggesting that cdkl might be degraded after this period of time if the ovulated oocyte is not fertilised.

Human megakaryocyte polyploidization is associated with a decrease in GPIIIA expression.

Megakaryocytes are platelet forming cells and are characterized by polyploidization, a phenomenon by which nuclear division occurs without corresponding cytoplasmic separation. Among the markers allowing to identify megakaryocytes, glycoprotein (GP) IIIa with GPIb and GPIIb are the most important. Using GPIIIa as a marker to recognize megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, we have estimated GPIIIa expression by flow cytometry in megakaryocyte populations from normal individuals and from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura or polycythemia vera. We showed that the expression of GPIIIa is decreasing during megakaryocyte polyploidization in normal and pathological situations.