Why this Project?

Using the well-established rat trachea model to test the hypothesis that normal respiratory epithelial cells transmit signals to neighboring cells in response to very low dose radiation exposure.

Project Goals

By comparing the responses shown by cells in these normal rodent respiratory tissues to those seen for human respiratory epithelial cells in reconstituted tissue constructs, it will be possible to better understand the responds in human respiratory cells in vivo. These studies will characterize responses after exposure to a variety of radiation types and dose distributions.

Experimental Approach:

Tracheal tissue will be irradiated with a highly collimated electron microbeam irradiator or with a single-particle positive ion microbeam irradiator. Changes will be measured in DNA repair-related protein expression, apoptosis, and in proteins involved in cell cycle regulation (cyclin) in both the irradiated cells and in the neighboring, unirradiated cells.

Expected Outcomes:

The studies will determine the role of radiation type, energy distribution and “hit” number on the induction of bystander effect in human respiratory epithelial cells. Such information will be useful in understanding radiation-induced lung cancer.