Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this research was to explore the dose-effect relationships of dicentric plus ring (dic + r), micronucleus (MN) and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPB) induced by carbon ions in human lymphocytes.
Materials and methods
Venous blood samples were collected from three healthy donors. 12C6+ ions beam was used to irradiate the blood samples at the energy of 330 MeV and linear energy transfer (LET) of 50 keV/μm with a dose rate of 1 Gy/min in the spread-out Bragg peak. The irradiated doses were 0 (sham irradiation), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Gy. Dic + r chromosomes aberrations were scored in metaphases. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN) was conducted to analyze MN and NPB. The maximum low-dose relative biological effectiveness (RBEM) values of the induction of dic + r, MN and NPB in human lymphocytes for 12C6+ ions irradiation was calculated relative to 60Co γ-rays.
Results
The frequencies of dic + r, MN and NPB showed significantly increases in a dose-depended manner after exposure to 12C6+ ions. The distributions of dic + r and MN exhibited overdispersion, while the distribution of NPB agreed with Poisson distribution at all doses. Linear-quadratic equations were established based on the frequencies of dic + r and MN. The dose-response curves of NPB frequencies followed a linear model. The derived RBEM values for dic + r, MN and NPB in human lymphocytes irradiated with 12C6+ ions were 8.07 ± 2.73, 2.69 ± 0.20 and 4.00 ± 2.69 in comparison with 60Co γ-rays.
Conclusion
The dose-response curves of carbon ions-induced dic + r, MN and NPB were constructed. These results could be helpful to improve radiation risk assessment and dose estimation after exposed to carbon ions irradiation.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Tian-Jing Cai
Tian-Jing Cai, MPH. She is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Shuang Li
Shuang Li, MD. She is an Associate Researcher in the Department of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Xue Lu
Xue Lu, BA. She is an Associate Senior Technician in the Department of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chun-Fei Zhang
Chun-Fei Zhang, BA. He is a physician in Central Medical District of PLA General Hospital
Ji-Long Yuan
Ji-Long Yuan, PhD. He is an Associate Researcher in the Department of Safety and Protection of Radiotherapy, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Qing-Zhao Zhang
Qing-Zhao Zhang, MMS. He is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiation Protection, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Xue-Lei Tian
Xue-Lei Tian, MMS. She is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
De-Xing Lian
De-Xing Lian, MMS. He is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiation Protection, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ming-Sheng Li
Ming-Sheng Li, MMS. He is an Associate Researcher in the Department of Safety and Protection of Radiotherapy, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Zhen Zhang
Zhen Zhang, PhD. He is a Researcher in the Department of Radiation Protection, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gang Liu
Gang Liu, BA. He is a Senior Technician in Gansu Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hua Zhao
Hua Zhao, PhD. He is a Research Associate in the Department of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Li-Mei Niu
Li-Mei Niu, BA. She is a Technologist-in-Charge in Gansu Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mei Tian
Mei Tian, PhD. She is theHead of the Department of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chang-Song Hou
Chang-Song Hou, PhD. He is the Head of the Department of Radiation Protection, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Qing-Jie Liu
Qing-Jie Liu, MD/PhD. He is a professor of Radiobiology, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. His research field is biological effects of ionizing radiation.