bims-iorami 2023-10-01 papers

Issue of 2023–10–01
three papers selected by
Chenxiao Yu, Soochow University

Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2023 Sep 28.

The impact of ionizing radiation compared to drug-induced immunological changes.

Ionizing radiation (IR) activates several signaling pathways. This study shows the impact of acute low-dose IR on crucial cytokines involved in cell-mediated immunity. The immunomodulatory effects of 0.25 and 0.5 Gray (Gy) gamma rays and standard immunomodulatory drugs (cyclophosphamide) on blood counts and significant pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in various inflammatory conditions were tested in 20 rats. Examined was the effect of acute low doses on critical cytokines, which could be utilized as an alternative to current immunosuppressive drugs. One day post-irradiation, serum levels of interferon-gamma (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-2/1-beta were measured. A 0.25 Gy exposure did not affect the detected cytokines or blood cell count compared to the nonirradiated group. On the other hand, 0.5 Gy raises the majority of the immunologically examined cytokines except for INF-γ. Except for INF-γ, cyclophosphamide reduces all of the cytokines examined. As a result, low-dose IR has a less negative influence on essential inflammatory cytokines, permitting its use. More research is needed to determine how low amounts could be used in different immunological disorders.

Keywords: cyclophosphamide; cytokines; gamma rays; immunomodulatory; low level of radiation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2023-0181

Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Sep 20. pii: 1784. [Epub ahead of print]12(9):

Role of Oxidative Stress in Mitochondrial Function: Relevance for Liver Function.

Jie Xu, Zhihui Feng.

The traditional recognition of mitochondria as powerhouses that generate ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) via oxidative phosphorylation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle has ceased [...].

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12091784

DNA Repair (Amst). 2023 Sep 17. pii: S1568-7864(23)00126-X. [Epub ahead of print]131 103572

Alteration in the chromatin landscape during the DNA damage response: Continuous rotation of the gear driving cellular senescence and aging.

Jianghao Qian, Xiangyu Zhou, Kozo Tanaka, Akiko Takahashi.

The DNA damage response (DDR) is a crucial biological mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis in living organisms. This complex process involves a cascade of signaling pathways that orchestrate the sensing and processing of DNA lesions. Perturbations in this process may cause DNA repair failure, genomic instability, and irreversible cell cycle arrest, known as cellular senescence, potentially culminating in tumorigenesis. Persistent DDR exerts continuous and cumulative pressure on global chromatin dynamics, resulting in altered chromatin structure and perturbed epigenetic regulations, which are highly associated with cellular senescence and aging. Sustained DDR activation and heterochromatin changes further promote senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which is responsible for aging-related diseases and cancer development. In this review, we discuss the diverse mechanisms by which DDR leads to cellular senescence and triggers SASP, together with the evidence for DDR-induced chromatin remodeling and epigenetic regulation in relation to aging.

Keywords: Aging; Cellular senescence; Chromatin remodeling; DNA damage response; Epigenetic alterations

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dnarep.2023.103572