Abstract: Nuclear radiation is mainly caused by the release of radioisotope. Radioisotope contains unstable atomic nuclei and can release particle or electromagnetic radiation, resulting in nuclear radiation effects on cellular and tissue injury, gene mutation, cancer, reproductive and immune system damage etc.
Keywords: Nuclear Radiation Effects, Nuclear Radiation Detection, Cellular Immune System
1. Nuclear Radiation Effects on Environment
The discharge of nuclear contaminated water into sea has a great effect on ecosystem and human health. Even without direct access to sea, the nuclear contaminated water still increases the radioactive level of local area and can be enriched in marine organisms. Finally, human beings are still affected by the food chain-induced nuclear radiation.
2. Nuclear Radiation Damage
2.1. DNA Damage
Nuclear radiation can directly or indirectly cause biological DNA damage, resulting in the change of hereditary substances(e.g. gene mutation, chromosome aberration etc.) These changes may have an adverse impact on the growth, reproduction and immunological function of organisms, even leading to genetic diseases.
2.2. Cellular Immune System
Nuclear radiation has a direct toxic effect on cellular structure and function of organisms, leading to cell death or metabolic disorder.
Nuclear radiation may:
- Cause the decreased T lymphocyte, dysfunction or increased apoptosis and also affect the normal working of immune response;
- Have a negative effect on development, proliferation and antibody production capability of B lymphocyte, thus reducing immunologic defence of the organism;
- Inhibit activity and function of NK cells, reducing immunosurveillance and clearance ability against tumor and infection;
- Inhibit phagocytosis and proinflammatory reaction of macrophage, affecting the immunologic defence capability of the organism.
3. Nuclear Radiation Exposure
Some radioactive substances are related to cancer development. Radioactive substances exposed to nuclear contaminated water for a long time may increase the risk of susceptibility to cancer, especially those high concentration of radioactive substances.
4. Oxidative Stress
Nuclear radiation may increase the intracellular oxidative stress and induce changes in free radical production and antioxidant capacity. Thus, the mobility and permeability of cell membrane change. Finally, the cellular structure and function also change.
5. Nuclear Radiation Detection Reagent
Common reagents for detecting nuclear radiation effects on cell or immune system are listed follows:
DNA damage detection reagent: DNA damage will break chromosome DNA double strand to produce a large amount of cohesive terminal 3'-OH. The effect of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT) can label derivatives formed by deoxyribonucleotide, fluorescein, peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase or biotin on the 3'-terminal of DNA to conduct the detection of apoptotic cells(TUNEL method) and estimate nuclear radiation effects on cellular DNA.
Cytotoxicity assay reagent: estimate nuclear radiation effects on cell survival rate, such as EdU, Calcein AM/PI, CCK-8, MTT and LDH assay kit etc.
Cell cycle detection kit: Estimate the cell circle distribution with flow cytometry, e.g. proposition changes of G1, S and G2/M phase.
Oxidative stress related reagent: Estimate nuclear radiation effects on cellular oxidative stress level, such as ROS(Reactive oxidation species) detection kit, antioxidase(e.g. SOD, CAT) detection kit.
Immunocyte marker detection reagent: Estimate nuclear radiation effects on immunocyte surface marker or the number of immunocyte with flow cytometry, e.g. detect changes in TBNK cell subpopulation with CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD16, CD56 etc.
Cytokine assay kit: e.g. ELISA Kit, detect nuclear radiation effects on cytokines and inflammatory response by measuring level change of proinflammatory cytokines(e.g. IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α etc.) and anti-inflammatory cytokines(e.g. IL-10).
6. Recommended Products
ELISA Kits
[EH0185]Human IL-1β(Interleukin 1 Beta) ELISA Kit
[EH0201]Human IL-6(Interleukin 6) ELISA Kit
[EH0302]Human TNF-α(Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha) ELISA Kit
[EH0173]Human IL-10(Interleukin 10) ELISA Kit
[EH4706-1]Human total SOD(superoxide dismutase) ELISA Kit
[EH0643]Human CAT(Catalase) ELISA Kit
Assay Kits
[K017]MTT-Cell Based Proliferation/Toxicity Assay Kit
Antibodies
[FNab01459]CD3 epsilon antibody
[FNab10807]CD8 antibody
[FNab05574]NCAM1/CD56 antibody
[FNab05575]NCAM1/CD56 antibody
[FNab09868]CD19 antibody
[FNab10139]CD16 antibody
REFERENCES
[1]Long-term effects of radiation exposure on health, PMID: 26251392.
[2]Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies: Biological Effects, Countermeasures and Biodosimetry, PMID: 35739995.