Biomaterial Database

Chromosomal "fingerprints" of prior exposure to densely ionizing radiation. 1994

D J Brenner, and R K Sachs

Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.

A biomarker that would distinguish radiation-induced biological damage from damage produced by other agents has long been a goal in radiation biology. We suggest that densely ionizing radiations such as alpha particles from radon daughters, or fission neutrons, leave a distinctive chromosomal marker that may be detected and measured long after radiation exposure. Specifically, they produce an anomalously low ratio (F) of interchromosomal to intrachromosomal, interarm exchange-type chromosome aberrations, in comparison with either X rays or chemical carcinogens. For densely ionizing radiations and for other agents, experimental values of this F ratio, determined both in vitro and in vivo, are quantitatively consistent with theoretical expectations based on considerations of chromosomal geometry and radiation track structure. The use of fluorescence in situ hybridization to measure F values in stable chromosomal aberrations, together with recent developments in techniques for harvesting viable human cells, makes the application of this biological marker quite feasible. For example, the use of this marker could greatly facilitate epidemiological studies of radon-exposed cohorts.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D002869	Chromosome Aberrations	Abnormal number or structure of chromosomes. Chromosome aberrations may result in CHROMOSOME DISORDERS.	Autosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Aberrations,Abnormalities, Autosome,Abnormalities, Chromosomal,Abnormalities, Chromosome,Chromosomal Aberrations,Chromosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Abnormalities,Aberration, Chromosomal,Aberration, Chromosome,Aberration, Cytogenetic,Aberrations, Chromosomal,Aberrations, Chromosome,Aberrations, Cytogenetic,Abnormalities, Cytogenetic,Abnormality, Autosome,Abnormality, Chromosomal,Abnormality, Chromosome,Abnormality, Cytogenetic,Autosome Abnormality,Chromosomal Aberration,Chromosomal Abnormalities,Chromosomal Abnormality,Chromosome Aberration,Chromosome Abnormality,Cytogenetic Aberration,Cytogenetic Abnormality
D002875	Chromosomes	In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Chromosome
D004249	DNA Damage	Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.	DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015415	Biomarkers	Measurable and quantifiable biological parameters (e.g., specific enzyme concentration, specific hormone concentration, specific gene phenotype distribution in a population, presence of biological substances) which serve as indices for health- and physiology-related assessments, such as disease risk, psychiatric disorders, ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE and its effects, disease diagnosis; METABOLIC PROCESSES; SUBSTANCE ABUSE; PREGNANCY; cell line development; EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES; etc.	Biochemical Markers,Biological Markers,Biomarker,Clinical Markers,Immunologic Markers,Laboratory Markers,Markers, Biochemical,Markers, Biological,Markers, Clinical,Markers, Immunologic,Markers, Laboratory,Markers, Serum,Markers, Surrogate,Markers, Viral,Serum Markers,Surrogate Markers,Viral Markers,Biochemical Marker,Biologic Marker,Biologic Markers,Clinical Marker,Immune Marker,Immune Markers,Immunologic Marker,Laboratory Marker,Marker, Biochemical,Marker, Biological,Marker, Clinical,Marker, Immunologic,Marker, Laboratory,Marker, Serum,Marker, Surrogate,Serum Marker,Surrogate End Point,Surrogate End Points,Surrogate Endpoint,Surrogate Endpoints,Surrogate Marker,Viral Marker,Biological Marker,End Point, Surrogate,End Points, Surrogate,Endpoint, Surrogate,Endpoints, Surrogate,Marker, Biologic,Marker, Immune,Marker, Viral,Markers, Biologic,Markers, Immune
D018499	Linear Energy Transfer	Rate of energy dissipation along the path of charged particles. In radiobiology and health physics, exposure is measured in kiloelectron volts per micrometer of tissue (keV/micrometer T).	Energy Transfer, Linear,LET,Transfer, Linear Energy