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Evaluation of Late Effects of Heavy-Ion Radiation on Mesenchymal Stem CellsThe overall objective of this recently funded study is to utilize well-characterized model test systems to assess the impact of pluripotent stem cell differentiation on biological effects associated with high-energy charged particle radiation. These stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have the potential for differentiation into bone, cartilage, fat, tendons, and other tissue types. The characterization of the regulation mechanisms of MSC differentiation to the osteoblastic lineage by transcription factors, such as Runx2/Cbfa1 and Osterix, and osteoinductive proteins such as members of the bone morphogenic protein family are well established. More importantly, for late biological effects, MSCs have been shown to contribute to tissue restructuring and repair after tissue injury. The complex regulation of and interactions between inflammation and repair determine the eventual outcome of the responses to tissue injury, for which MSCs play a crucial role. Additionally, MSCs have been shown to respond to reactive oxygen species, a secondary effector of radiation, by differentiating. With this, we hypothesized that differentiation of MSCs can alter or exacerbate the damage initiated by radiation, which can ultimately lead to late biological effects of misrepair/fibrosis which may ultimately lead to carcinogenesis. Currently, studies are underway to examine high-energy X-ray radiation at low and high doses, approximately 20 and 200 Rad, respectively, on cytogenetic damage and gene modulation of isolated MSCs. These cells, positive for MSC surface markers, were obtained from three persons. In vitro cell samples were harvested during cellular proliferation and after both cellular recovery and differentiation. Future work will use established in vitro models of increasing complexity to examine the value of traditional 2D tissue-culture techniques, and utilize 3D in vitro tissue culture techniques that can better assess late effects associated with radiation.
Document ID
20080026215
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gonda, S.R.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Behravesh, E.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Huff, J.L.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Johnson, F.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 10, 2005
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Meeting Information
Meeting: Bioastronautics Investigators'' Workshop
Location: Moody Gardens, Texas
Country: United States
Start Date: January 10, 2005
End Date: January 12, 2005
Sponsors: NASA Johnson Space Center
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: 03-OBPR-07-0038-0009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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