Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation

Abstract Micronucleus (MN) formation has a strong link to radiation damage and is a common bio-dosimeter for acute radiation exposures. The percentage of cells containing MN (PCMN) has a strong relationship with dose, however variation between previous studies has made understanding the effect of li...

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Main Authors: Charlotte J. Heaven, John-William Warmenhoven, Amy L. Chadwick, Elham Santina, Jamie Honeychurch, Christine K. Schmidt, Karen J. Kirkby, Michael J. Merchant, Nicholas T. Henthorn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09763-9
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author Charlotte J. Heaven
John-William Warmenhoven
Amy L. Chadwick
Elham Santina
Jamie Honeychurch
Christine K. Schmidt
Karen J. Kirkby
Michael J. Merchant
Nicholas T. Henthorn
author_facet Charlotte J. Heaven
John-William Warmenhoven
Amy L. Chadwick
Elham Santina
Jamie Honeychurch
Christine K. Schmidt
Karen J. Kirkby
Michael J. Merchant
Nicholas T. Henthorn
author_sort Charlotte J. Heaven
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Micronucleus (MN) formation has a strong link to radiation damage and is a common bio-dosimeter for acute radiation exposures. The percentage of cells containing MN (PCMN) has a strong relationship with dose, however variation between previous studies has made understanding the effect of linear energy transfer (LET) difficult. This study investigated the PCMN of seven cell lines in response to photon and proton irradiation at two different LETs (0.6 keV/ µm and 6.5 keV/ µm). MN production was scored via the cytokinesis block micronuclei assay. A linear relationship between dose and PCMN was noted for all cell lines and radiation types, with a large variability in the MN yield between cell lines. This dose-dependent increase in PCMN was independent of LET, with most cell lines showing similar responses to the radiation qualities. Overall, this data proposes a more complex relationship between dose, MN and LET.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-3f8adf596b084b6ba5ea23e039b2fa472025-08-20T03:45:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-09763-9Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiationCharlotte J. Heaven0John-William Warmenhoven1Amy L. Chadwick2Elham Santina3Jamie Honeychurch4Christine K. Schmidt5Karen J. Kirkby6Michael J. Merchant7Nicholas T. Henthorn8Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation TrustManchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation TrustManchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation TrustManchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation TrustDivision of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of ManchesterDivision of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of ManchesterDivision of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of ManchesterDivision of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of ManchesterManchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation TrustAbstract Micronucleus (MN) formation has a strong link to radiation damage and is a common bio-dosimeter for acute radiation exposures. The percentage of cells containing MN (PCMN) has a strong relationship with dose, however variation between previous studies has made understanding the effect of linear energy transfer (LET) difficult. This study investigated the PCMN of seven cell lines in response to photon and proton irradiation at two different LETs (0.6 keV/ µm and 6.5 keV/ µm). MN production was scored via the cytokinesis block micronuclei assay. A linear relationship between dose and PCMN was noted for all cell lines and radiation types, with a large variability in the MN yield between cell lines. This dose-dependent increase in PCMN was independent of LET, with most cell lines showing similar responses to the radiation qualities. Overall, this data proposes a more complex relationship between dose, MN and LET.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09763-9Micronucleicytochalasin-BRadiotherapyProton therapy, DNA damage
spellingShingle Charlotte J. Heaven
John-William Warmenhoven
Amy L. Chadwick
Elham Santina
Jamie Honeychurch
Christine K. Schmidt
Karen J. Kirkby
Michael J. Merchant
Nicholas T. Henthorn
Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
Scientific Reports
Micronuclei
cytochalasin-B
Radiotherapy
Proton therapy, DNA damage
title Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
title_full Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
title_fullStr Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
title_full_unstemmed Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
title_short Unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
title_sort unravelling the impact of linear energy transfer on micronuclei induction from proton and photon irradiation
topic Micronuclei
cytochalasin-B
Radiotherapy
Proton therapy, DNA damage
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09763-9
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