Candidate protein markers for radiation biodosimetry in the hematopoietically humanized mouse model

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 10;8(1):13557. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31740-8.

Abstract

After a radiological incident, there is an urgent need for fast and reliable bioassays to identify radiation-exposed individuals within the first week post exposure. This study aimed to identify candidate radiation-responsive protein biomarkers in human lymphocytes in vivo using humanized NOD scid gamma (Hu-NSG) mouse model. Three days after X-irradiation (0-2 Gy, 88 cGy/min), human CD45+ lymphocytes were collected from the Hu-NSG mouse spleen and quantitative changes in the proteome of the human lymphocytes were analysed by mass spectrometry. Forty-six proteins were differentially expressed in response to radiation exposure. FDXR, BAX, DDB2 and ACTN1 proteins were shown to have dose-dependent response with a fold change greater than 2. When these proteins were used to estimate radiation dose by linear regression, the combination of FDXR, ACTN1 and DDB2 showed the lowest mean absolute errors (≤0.13 Gy) and highest coefficients of determination (R2 = 0.96). Biomarker validation studies were performed in human lymphocytes 3 days after irradiation in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, this is the first study to identify radiation-induced human protein signatures in vivo using the humanized mouse model and develop a protein panel which could be used for the rapid assessment of absorbed dose 3 days after radiation exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Actinin / analysis
  • Actinin / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation*
  • Female
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / analysis
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / radiation effects*
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / radiation effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Proteomics
  • Radiation Injuries / blood
  • Radiation Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Radiation Injuries / urine
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Transplantation Chimera
  • Whole-Body Irradiation
  • X-Rays / adverse effects*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / analysis
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • ACTN1 protein, human
  • BAX protein, human
  • Biomarkers
  • DDB2 protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Actinin
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase