Effects of Low-Dose-Gamma Rays on the Immune System of Different Animal Models of Disease

Abstract

ᮀ We reviewed the beneficial or harmful effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on several diseases based on a search of the literature. The attenuation of autoimmune manifestations in animal disease models irradiated with low-dose γ-rays was previously reported by several research groups, whereas the exacerbation of allergic manifestations was described by others. Based on a detailed examination of the literature, we divided animal disease models into two groups: one group consisting of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), experimental encephalomyelitis (EAE), and systemic lupus erythematosus, the pathologies of which were attenuated by low-dose irradiation, and another group consisting of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the pathologies of which were exacerbated by low-dose irradiation. The same biological indicators, such as cytokine levels and Tcell subpopulations, were examined in these studies. Low-dose irradiation reduced interferon (IFN)-gamma (γ) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels and increased IL-5 levels and the percentage of CD4Treg cells in almost all immunological disease cases examined. Variations in these biological indicators were attributed to the attenuation or exacerbation of the disease's manifestation. We concluded that autoimmune diseases caused by autoantibodies were attenuated by low-dose irradiation, whereas diseases caused by antibodies against external antigens, such as atopic dermatitis, were exacerbated.

Boswellic Acid Synergizes With Low-Level Ionizing Radiation to Modulate Bisphenol Induced-Lung Toxicity in Rats by Inhibiting JNK/ERK/c-Fos Pathway

“…Animals were divided randomly into 8 groups (6 animals per group): Group 1 (Control): Healthy animals supplied distilled water by gastric intubation daily for 4 weeks. Group 2 (BA): According to Mishra et al (2011), 23 Rats were treated orally with boswellic acid (BA) by gastric intubation in a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight a day for 4 weeks. Group 3 (IR): Rats were exposed to a single dose (0.5 Gy) of ionizing radiation as a low dose of radiation according to Shimura & Kojima (2014). 24 Group 4 (BA + IR): Rats were treated orally with BA every day at the same dosage as group 2 for 4 weeks, and were exposed to a single dose of IR (0.5 Gy). Group 5 (BPA): According to Amaravathi et al (2012), 25 Rats were treated orally with 500 mg/kg body weight Bisphenol A (BPA) daily over 4 weeks. Group 6 (BPA + BA): Rats were orally treated with BPA daily for 4 weeks at the same dose given to group 5 then treated with BA daily for another 4 weeks at the same dose given to group 2. Group 7 (BPA + IR): Rats were orally treated with BPA daily for 4 weeks at the same dose given to group 5 then exposed to a single dose of IR (0.5 Gy). Group 8 (BPA + IR+ BA): Rats were orally treated with BPA daily for 4 weeks at the same dose given to group 5 then exposed to a single dose of IR (0.5 Gy), then treated with BA daily for 4 weeks at the same dose given to group 2. …”

Effects of Gamma and Electron Radiation on the Structural Integrity of Organic Molecules and Macromolecular Biomarkers Measured by Microarray Immunoassays and Their Astrobiological Implications

“…Another significant finding in this study is that exposure to the smallest dose (1 kGy) of gamma radiation resulted in an increase in the immunoidentification of almost 20% of the molecules tested. Although the beneficial effect of low ionizing radiation doses on the stimulation of the immune system in animal models is well known (Shimura and Kojima, 2014 ), it is mainly attributed to the stimulation of antibody production and specific cell types by products released by damaged cells (Yang et al , 2014 ). Hati et al ( 1990 ) reported that the antiserum produced against gamma-irradiated viper venom had better neutralizing efficiency when the antiserum was produced with the venom irradiated at a lower dose.…”

Investigating Low-Dose Thoracic Radiation as a Treatment for COVID-19 Patients to Prevent Respiratory Failure

“…It is emerging as a promising therapeutic target with preliminary evidence that blockade of its receptor using tocilizumab leads to recovery in severe COVID-19 patients (13). These developing human data on the importance of IL-6 are supported by extensive animal data on the effects of lowdose radiation on a variety of animal diseases, including collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), experimental encephalomyelitis (EAE), and systemic lupus erythematosus, which were summarized in an extensive review (14). A unifying theme in these rodent models of human disease was that IL-6 levels were constitutively upregulated in the majority of the diseases and were significantly inhibited by lowdose radiation (15)(16)(17)(18).…”