Logistic role of carnitine shuttle system on radiation-induced L-carnitine and acylcarnitines alteration

Abstract

Purpose

With the development of radiation metabolomics, a large number of radiation-related metabolic biomarkers have been identified and validated. The L-carnitine and acylcarnitines have the potential to be the new promising candidate indicators of radiation exposure. This review summarizes the effect of carnitine shuttle system on the profile of acylcarnitines and correlates the radiation effects on upstream regulators of carnitine shuttle system with the change characteristics of L-carnitine and acylcarnitines after irradiation across different animal models as well as a few humans.

Conclusions

Studies report that acylcarnitines were ubiquitously elevated after irradiation, especially the free L-carnitine and short-chain acylcarnitines (C2–C5). However, the molecular mechanism underlying acylcarnitine alterations after irradiation is not fully investigated, and further studies are needed to explore the biological effect and its mechanism. The activity of the carnitine shuttle system plays a key role in the alteration of L-carnitine and acylcarnitines, and the upstream regulators of the system are known to be affected by irradiation. These evidences indicate that that there is a logistic role of carnitine shuttle system on radiation-induced L-carnitine and acylcarnitines alteration.

Keywords:

• L-carnitine and acylcarnitines alteration
• carnitine shuttle system
• metabolomics
• fatty acid β-oxidation

Author contributions

All authors have equal contribution to the design and writing of the review. All authors approved the final version of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 81573081, 81172593, 82003393, 81803162, 8217346].

Notes on contributors

Hai-Xiang Liu

Hai-Xiang Liu, MS, is a PhD candidate in the National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

Qing-Jie Liu

Qing-Jie Liu, MD, PhD, is a Full Professor of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.