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Animal experimental studies indicate that acute or chronic low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) (≤100 mSv) or low-dose-rate ionizing radiation (LDRIR) (<6 mSv/h) exposures may be harmful. It induces genetic and epigenetic changes and is associated with a range of physiological disturbances that includes altered immune system, abnormal brain development with resultant cognitive impairment, cataractogenesis, abnormal embryonic development, circulatory diseases, weight gain, premature menopause in female animals, tumorigenesis and shortened lifespan. Paternal or prenatal LDIR/LDRIR exposure is associated with reduced fertility and number of live fetuses, and transgenerational genomic aberrations. On the other hand, in some experimental studies, LDIR/LDRIR exposure has also been reported to bring about beneficial effects such as reduction in tumorigenesis, prolonged lifespan and enhanced fertility. The differences in reported effects of LDIR/LDRIR exposure are dependent on animal genetic background (susceptibility), age (prenatal or postnatal days), sex, nature of radiation exposure (i.e. acute, fractionated or chronic radiation exposure), type of radiation, combination of radiation with other toxic agents (such as smoking, pesticides or other chemical toxins) or animal experimental designs. In this review paper, we aimed to update radiation researchers and radiologists on the current progress achieved in understanding the LDIR/LDRIR-induced bionegative and biopositive effects reported in the various animal models. The roles played by a variety of molecules that are implicated in LDIR/LDRIR-induced health effects will be elaborated. The review will help in future investigations of LDIR/LDRIR-induced health effects by providing clues for designing improved animal research models in order to clarify the current controversial/contradictory findings from existing studies.

Oleuropein is one of the most abundant phenolic compounds found in olives.Epidemiological studies have indicated that an increasing intake of olive oil can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer. However, the potential effect(s) of oleuropein on estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer is not fully understood.This study aims to understand the anticancer effects and underlying mechanism (s) of oleuropein on ER-negative breast cancer cells in vitro. The effect of oleuropein on the viability of breast cancer cell lines was examined by mitochondrial dye-uptake assay, apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation by DNA binding/reporter assays and protein expression by Western blot analysis. In the present report, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay results indicated that oleuropein inhibited the viability of breast cancer cells, and its effects were more pronounced on MDA-MB-231 as compared with MCF-7 cells. It was further found that oleuropein increased the level of reactive oxygen species and also significantly inhibited cellular migration and invasion. In addition, the activation of NF-κB was abrogated as demonstrated by Western blot analysis, NF-κB-DNA binding, and luciferase assays. Overall, the data indicates that oleuropein can induce substantial apoptosis via modulating NF-κB activation cascade in breast cancer cells. K E Y W O R D S estrogen receptor negative breast cancer, nuclear factor-κB, oleuropein, reactive oxygen species J Cell Biochem. 2019;120:4504-4513. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jcb 4504 |

Experimental studies have indicated that Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM), extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phospho-c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and protein 53 (P53)-related signal transduction pathways may be involved in LDIR-induced hormesis; MAPK, P53 may be important for adaptive response; ATM, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), ERK, JNK, reactive oxygen species (ROS), P53 for radioresistance; COX-2, ERK, MAPK, ROS, tumor necrosis factor receptor alpha (TNFα) for LDIR-induced bystander effect; whereas ATM, ERK, MAPK, P53, ROS, TNFα-related signal transduction pathways are involved in LDIR-induced genomic instability. These results suggest that different manifestations of LDIR-induced cellular responses may have different signal transduction pathways. On the other hand, LDIR-induced different responses may also share the same signal transduction pathways. For instance, P53 has been involved in LDIR-induced hormesis, adaptive response, radioresistance and genomic instability. Current data therefore suggest that caution should be taken when designing therapeutic approaches using LDIR to induce beneficial effects in humans.

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