Examining Radiation-Induced In Vivo and In Vitro Gene Expression Changes of the Peripheral Blood in Different...

Area of Science:

• Radiation biology
• Molecular epidemiology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Acute radiation exposure necessitates rapid, high-throughput individual dose estimation methods.
• The European Union's Realizing the European Network of Biodosimetry (EU-RENB) project aims to advance biodosimetry capabilities.
• Assessing radiation doses in vivo and in vitro is critical for emergency preparedness and clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate gene expression platforms for biodosimetry.
• To use blood samples from prostate cancer patients (in vivo) and healthy donors (in vitro).
• To compare in vivo and in vitro radiation-induced gene expression changes.

Main Methods:

• Whole blood samples were irradiated in vitro and collected from prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (in vivo).
• Gene expression analysis was performed using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) platforms.
• Dose estimates were calculated, and results were compared between in vitro and in vivo samples.

Main Results:

• qRT-PCR provided rapid dose estimates (as early as 7 h) with precision comparable to microarrays.
• Dose estimates using the ferredoxin reductase (FDXR) gene were precise, especially at doses ≤2 Gy.
• In vivo exposed blood samples were successfully discriminated from unexposed samples using an in vitro-to-in vivo correction factor for FDXR.

Conclusions:

• Early and precise radiation dose estimates are achievable using qRT-PCR-based biodosimetry.
• In vitro calibration curves, adjusted with a correction factor, can be used for in vivo dose estimation.
• This approach offers a viable method for rapid individual dose assessment in radiation emergencies.