Bioindicators
Our research
Bioindicators of low dose exposure in ethnically different populations
Bioindicators refer to biological changes such as increases or decreases in gene expression or cellular protein levels, changes in cell function, or alterations to genetic material. These may occur as a result of low dose radiation exposure. The extent of the changes may vary depending on gender, age, ethnicity, health status etc. Our research aims to identify and analyse bioindicators isolated from various sources such as:
- Cells and tissues from donors of various genders, age and ethnicity that are subsequently exposed to low dose radiation ex vivo
- Cells and tissues from subjects who have been previously exposed to radiation e.g. from medical procedures or radiological accidents such as the Chernobyl incident
- Organ-on-a-chip cultures that are grown in low dose radiation conditions
Alongside collaborations with local and international research institutes such as Ukraine’s National Research Centre for Radiation Medicine (NRCRM), our research will give insight into the biological effects of low dose radiation exposure in populations of various ethnic make-up.
Lymphocytes isolated from blood can be cultured ex vivo to be used for cellular studies
3D cultures of various tissues can be grown on chips and connected by microfluidics channels to more accurately mimic cellular interactions in the human body
Mechanics of intercellular effects after radiation exposure
Biological cells that have been exposed to radiation release cellular communication signals that can affect the surrounding non-irradiated cells. This in turn will have a biological impact – the non-irradiated cells may subsequently be damaged, even though they did not directly encounter the radiation, or they may undergo adaptive responses that protect them from damage in a subsequent exposure. We explore these effects in a variety of ways:
- Identification of signaling molecules carried by extracellular vesicles
Extracellular vesicles are small particles released by a cell. They carry signaling molecules such as proteins or nucleic acids. The amount and type of signaling molecules can vary depending on external conditions. For example, a cell that has been exposed to radiation may release a different set of signaling molecules compared to a cell that has been exposed to a cocktail of growth factors. These molecules in the extracellular vesicles can be taken up by another recipient cell, which can in turn affect the recipient cell, for example by increasing cellular defense mechanisms. By studying the types of signaling molecules and their effects on recipient cells, we can better understand the effect of radiation exposure.
- Differences in radiation quality and its biological effect
Different types of radiation exposure (x-ray, gamma radiation, proton beam etc) may elicit different biological effects. The differences can be quantified using various biological assays such as cell survival, formation of DNA damage foci etc.
Cell culture dish showing cell colonies stained blue. The ability of individual cells to form colonies reflect their ability to survive and proliferate.
Areas of DNA damage foci within cells can be visualized with a fluorescently tagged antibody against g-H2AX, a protein associated with the DNA damage repair pathway