Study on MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Radon-induced Radiation Damage

High concentrations of radon may cause radiation damage to the human body. Finding the biomarkers of radon-induced radiation damage is particularly important for the research and treatment of radon-induced lung cancer. In this study, the expression of γH2AX protein in peripheral blood lymphocytes of miners exposed to high concentrations of radon was detected by flow cytometry. To investigate the possible damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of miners under a high radon environment, a microRNA (miRNA) microarray technique was used to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral plasma of miners exposed to different concentrations of radon. Prediction of the target genes and the possible biological functions of differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral plasma of miners was performed. The results indicated that the relative expression level of γH2AX protein in peripheral blood lymphocytes of miners was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P <  0.05). Bioinformatics methods were used to predict the differential expression miRNA chip to screen the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs and the signaling pathways that may be involved in screening differentially expressed miRNA target genes and to investigate the relationship between some different miRNA target genes and cellular pathways. The analysis of the cellular pathways predicted by differentially expressed miRNAs, including the process of cell cycle, provides new information for the study of miRNAs as potential biomarkers of radon-induced radiation damage in peripheral blood.