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Frequency of gamma H2AX foci in healthy volunteers and health workers occupationally exposed to X-irradiation and its relevance in biological dosimetry

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Abstract

Gamma-H2AX (γ-H2AX) assay is a marker to measure double-strand breaks in the deoxyribonucleic acid. Variables such as age, oxidative stress, temperature, genetic factors and inter-individual variation have been reported to influence the baseline γ-H2AX focus levels. Therefore, knowledge on baseline frequency of γ-H2AX foci in a targeted population would facilitate reliable radiation triage and dose estimation. The objective of the present study was to establish the baseline data using blood samples from healthy volunteers (n = 130) differing in age, occupation and lifestyle as well as from occupationally exposed health workers (n = 20). The γ-H2AX focus assay was performed using epifluorescence microscopy. In vitro dose–response curve for γ-H2AX foci was constructed in blood samples (n = 3) exposed to X-rays (30 min post-exposure). The mean γ-H2AX focus frequency obtained in healthy volunteers was 0.042 ± 0.001 and showed an age-related increase (p < 0.001). Significantly higher (p < 0.005) focus frequencies were observed in health workers (0.066 ± 0.005) than in healthy volunteers. A sub-group analysis did not show a significant (p > 0.1) difference in γ-H2AX focus frequency among sexes. Blood exposed in vitro to X-rays showed dose-dependent increase in γ-H2AX foci frequency (Y = 0.1902 ± 0.1363 + 2.9020 ± 0.3240 * D). Baseline frequency of γ-H2AX foci obtained from different age groups showed a significant (p < 0.01) influence on the dose–response coefficients. The overall results demonstrated that the γ-H2AX assay can be used as a reliable biomarker for radiation triage and estimating the radiation absorbed dose by considering variables such as age, occupation and lifestyle factors.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely acknowledge Dr. P. Venkatesan, Deputy Director, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Tuberculosis Research Center (TRC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), for analysis and interpretation of the data. We thank Dr. Tripathi, Director, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Dr. Solomon F.D. Paul, Department of Human Genetics, for their support, and E Ainsbury, HPA, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxford, United Kingdom, for gifting us the ‘Dose Estimate’ software. We also thank Dr. Sebastian Spencer, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, USA, for the language correction.

Funding

This work was supported by from Life Science Research Board (LSRB), Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), (DLS/81/48222/LSRB-261) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) (SR-SO/HS-127/2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India

    Venkateswarlu Raavi, Safa Abdul Syed Basheerudeen, Vijayalakshmi Jagannathan & Perumal Venkatachalam

  2. Department of Neuro Interventional Radiology, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India

    Santosh Joseph

  3. Chemical Radio Protector and Radiation Dosimetry Research Group, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Brig Mazumdar Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110 054, India

    Nabo Kumar Chaudhury

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  1. Venkateswarlu Raavi
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  2. Safa Abdul Syed Basheerudeen
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Correspondence to Perumal Venkatachalam.

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Raavi, V., Basheerudeen, S.A.S., Jagannathan, V. et al. Frequency of gamma H2AX foci in healthy volunteers and health workers occupationally exposed to X-irradiation and its relevance in biological dosimetry. Radiat Environ Biophys 55, 339–347 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-016-0658-1

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