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PURPOSE: The long-term effect of low and moderate doses of ionizing radiation on the lens is still a matter of debate and needs to be evaluated in more detail. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a detailed histological analysis of eyes from B6C3F1 mice cohorts after acute gamma irradiation (60Co source; 0.063 Gy/min) at young adult age of 10 weeks with doses of 0.063, 0.125 and 0.5 Gy. Sham irradiated (0 Gy) mice were used as controls. To test for genetic susceptibility heterozygous Ercc2 mutant mice were used and compared to wild type mice of the same strain background. Mice of both sexes were included in all cohorts. Eyes were collected 4 hours, 12, 18 and 24 months after irradiation. For a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms, metabolomics analyses were performed in lenses and plasma samples of the same mouse cohorts at 4 and 12 hours as well as 12, 18 and 24 months after irradiation. For this purpose, a targeted analysis was chosen. RESULTS: This analysis revealed histological changes particularly in the posterior part of the lens that rarely can be observed by using Scheimpflug imaging, as we reported previously. We detected a significant increase of posterior subcapsular cataracts 18 and 24 months after irradiation with 0.5 Gy (odds ratio 9.3; 95%-confidence interval 2.1 - 41.3) independent of sex and genotype. Doses below 0.5 Gy (i.e. 0.063 and 0.125 Gy) did not significantly increase the frequency of posterior subcapsular cataracts at any time point. In lenses, we observed a clear effect of sex and aging but not of irradiation or genotype. While metabolomics analyses of plasma from the same mice showed only a sex effect. CONCLUSIONS: This paper demonstrates a significant radiation-induced increase in the incidence of posterior subcapsular cataracts, which could not be identified using Scheimpflug imaging as the only diagnostic tool.

For the modelling of count data, aggregation of the raw data over certain subgroups or predictor configurations is common practice. This is, for instance, the case for count data biomarkers of radiation exposure. Under the Poisson law, count data can be aggregated without loss of information on the Poisson parameter, which remains true if the Poisson assumption is relaxed towards quasi-Poisson. However, in biodosimetry in particular, but also beyond, the question of how the dispersion estimates for quasi-Poisson models behave under data aggregation have received little attention. Indeed, for real data sets featuring unexplained heterogeneities, dispersion estimates can increase strongly after aggregation, an effect which we will demonstrate and quantify explicitly for some scenarios. The increase in dispersion estimates implies an inflation of the parameter standard errors, which, however, by comparison with random effect models, can be shown to serve a corrective purpose. The phenomena are illustrated by γ-H2AX foci data as used for instance in radiation biodosimetry for the calibration of dose-response curves.

Normal tissue toxicity after radiotherapy shows variability between patients, indicating inter-individual differences in radiosensitivity. Genetic variation probably contributes to these differences. The aim of the present study was to determine if two cell lines, one radiosensitive (RS) and another radioresistant (RR), showed differences in DNA repair capacity, cell viability, cell cycle progression and, in turn, if this response could be characterised by a differential gene expression profile at different post-irradiation times. After irradiation, the RS cell line showed a slower rate of γ-H2AX foci disappearance, a higher frequency of incomplete chromosomal aberrations, a reduced cell viability and a longer disturbance of the cell cycle when compared to the RR cell line. Moreover, a greater and prolonged transcriptional response after irradiation was induced in the RS cell line. Functional analysis showed that 24 h after irradiation genes involved in “DNA damage response”, “direct p53 effectors” and apoptosis were still differentially up-regulated in the RS cell line but not in the RR cell line. The two cell lines showed different response to IR and can be distinguished with cell-based assays and differential gene expression analysis. The results emphasise the importance to identify biomarkers of radiosensitivity for tailoring individualized radiotherapy protocols.

Purpose: The increasing use of low-dose ionizing radiation in medicine requires a systematic study of its long-term effects on the brain, behaviour and its possible association with neurodegenerative disease vulnerability. Therefore, we analysed the long-term effects of a single low-dose irradiation exposure at 10 weeks of age compared to medium and higher doses on locomotor, emotion-related and sensorimotor behaviour in mice as well as on hippocampal glial cell populations. Materials and methods: We determined the influence of radiation dose (0, 0.063, 0.125 or 0.5 Gy), time post-irradiation (4, 12 and 18 months p.i.), sex and genotype (wild type versus mice with Ercc2 DNA repair gene point mutation) on behaviour. Results: The high dose (0.5 Gy) had early-onset adverse effects at 4 months p.i. on sensorimotor recruitment and late-onset negative locomotor effects at 12 and 18 months p.i. Notably, the low dose (0.063 Gy) produced no early effects but subtle late-onset (18 months) protective effects on sensorimotor recruitment and exploratory behaviour. Quantification and morphological characterization of the microglial and the astrocytic cells of the dentate gyrus 24 months p.i. indicated heightened immune activity after high dose irradiation (0.125 and 0.5 Gy) while conversely, low dose (0.063 Gy) induced more neuroprotective features. Conclusion: This is one of the first studies demonstrating such long-term and late-onset effects on brain and behaviour after a single radiation event in adulthood.

The impact of low-dose ionizing radiation (IR) on the human brain has recently attracted attention due to the increased use of IR for diagnostic purposes. The aim of this study was to investigate low-dose radiation response in the hippocampus. Female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to total body irradiation with 0 (control), 0.063, 0.125, or 0.5 Gy. Quantitative label-free proteomic analysis of the hippocampus was performed after 24 months. CREB signaling and CREB-associated pathways were affected at all doses. The lower doses (0.063 and 0.125 Gy) induced the CREB pathway, whereas the exposure to 0.5 Gy deactivated CREB. Similarly, the lowest dose (0.063 Gy) was anti-inflammatory, reducing the number of activated microglia. In contrast, induction of activated microglia and reactive astroglia was found at 0.5 Gy, suggesting increased inflammation and astrogliosis, respectively. The apoptotic markers BAX and cleaved CASP-3 and oxidative stress markers were increased only at the highest dose. Since the activated CREB pathway plays a central role in learning and memory, these data suggest neuroprotection at the lowest dose (0.063 Gy) but neurodegeneration at 0.5 Gy. The response to 0.5 Gy resembles alterations found in healthy aging and thus may represent radiation-induced accelerated aging of the brain.

Age dependent radiation sensitivity for DNA damage after in vitro blood exposure by computer tomography (CT) was investigated.Radiation biomarkers (dicentrics and gammaH2AX) in blood samples of newborns, children under five years and adults after sham exposure (0 mGy), low-dose (41 mGy) and high-dose (978 mGy) in vitro CT exposure were analyzed.Significantly higher levels of dicentric induction were found for the single and combined newborns/children group compared to adults, by a factor of 1.48 (95% CI 1.30-1.68), after exposure to 978 mGy. Although a significant dose response for damage induction and dose-dependent repair was found, the gammaH2AX assay did not show an age-dependent increase in DNA damage in newborns/children compared to adults. This was the case for the gammaH2AX levels after repair time intervals of 30 minutes and 24 hours, after correcting for the underlying background damage. For the low dose of 41 mGy, the power of the dicentric assay was also not sufficient to detect an age-dependent effect in the sample size investigated.A 1.5-fold increased level of dicentric aberrations is detected in newborns and children under five years after 1 Gy radiation exposure.

Purpose: Automated detection of dicentric chromosomes from a large number of cells was applied to study age-dependent radiosensitivity after in vitro CT exposure of blood from healthy donors. Materials and methods: Blood samples from newborns, children (2-5 years) and adults (20-50 years) were exposed in vitro to 0 mGy, 41 mGy and 978 mGy using a CT equipment. In this study, automated scoring based on 13,000-31,000 cells/dose point/age group was performed. Results for control and low dose points were validated by manually counting about 26,000 cells/dose point/age group. Results: For all age groups, the high number of analyzed cells enabled the detection of a significant increase in the frequency of radiation induced dicentric chromosomes in cells exposed to 41 mGy as compared to control cells. Moreover, differences between the age groups could be resolved for the low dose: young donors showed significantly increased risk for induced dicentrics at 41 mGy compared to adults. Conclusions: The results very clearly demonstrate that the automated dicentric scoring method is capable of discerning radiation induced biomarkers in the low dose range (

Because of the increasing application of ionizing radiation in medicine, quantitative data on effects of low-dose radiation are needed to optimize radiation protection, particularly with respect to cataract development. Using mice as mammalian animal model, we applied a single dose of 0, 0.063, 0.125 and 0.5 Gy at 10 weeks of age, determined lens opacities for up to 2 years and compared it with overall survival, cytogenetic alterations and cancer development. The highest dose was significantly associated with increased body weight and reduced survival rate. Chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells showed a dose-dependent increase 12 months after irradiation. Pathological screening indicated a dose-dependent risk for several types of tumors. Scheimpflug imaging of the lens revealed a significant dose-dependent effect of 1% of lens opacity. Comparison of different biological end points demonstrated long-term effects of low-dose irradiation for several biological end points. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00411-017-0728-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In the event of a mass casualty radiation incident, the gamma-H2AX foci assay could be a useful tool to estimate radiation doses received by individuals. The rapid processing time of blood samples of just a few hours and the potential for batch processing, enabling high throughput, make the assay ideal for early triage categorisation to separate the 'worried well' from the low and critically exposed by quantifying radiation-induced foci in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Within the RENEB framework, 8 European laboratories have taken part in the first European gamma-H2AX biodosimetry exercise, which consisted of a telescoring comparison of 200 circulated foci images taken from 8 samples, and a comparison of 10 fresh blood lymphocyte samples that were shipped overnight to participating labs 4 or 24 h post-exposure. Despite large variations between laboratories in the dose-response relationship for foci induction, the obtained results indicate that the network should be able to use the gamma-H2AX assay for rapidly identifying the most severely exposed individuals within a cohort who could then be prioritised for accurate chromosome dosimetry.

Cancer risk and radiation sensitivity are often associated with alterations in DNA repair, cell cycle, or apoptotic pathways. Interindividual variability in mutagen or radiation sensitivity and in cancer susceptibility may also be traced back to polymorphisms of genes affecting e.g. DNA repair capacity. We studied possible associations between 70 polymorphisms of 12 DNA repair genes with basal and initial DNA damage and with repair thereof. We investigated DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation in lymphocytes isolated from 177 young lung cancer patients and 169 cancer-free controls. We also sought replication of our findings in an independent sample of 175 families (in total 798 individuals). DNA damage was assessed by the Olive tail moment (OTM) of the comet assay. DNA repair capacity (DRC) was determined for 10, 30 and, 60min of repair. Genes involved in the single-strand-repair pathway (SSR; like XRCC1 and MSH2) as well as genes involved in the double-strand-repair pathway (DSR; like RAD50, XRCC4, MRE11 and ATM) were found to be associated with DNA damage. The most significant association was observed for marker rs3213334 (p=0.005) of XRCC1 with basal DNA damage (B), in both cases and controls. A clear additive effect on the logarithm of OTM was identified for the marker rs1001581 of the same LD-block (p=0.039): BCC=-1.06 (95%-CI: -1.16 to -0.96), BCT=-1.02 (95%-CI: -1.11 to -0.93) and BTT=-0.85 (95%-CI: -1.01 to -0.68). In both cases and controls, we observed significantly higher DNA basal damage (p=0.007) for carriers of the genotype AA of marker rs2237060 of RAD50 (involved in DSR). However, this could not be replicated in the sample of families (p=0.781). An alteration to DRC after 30min of repair with respect to cases was observed as borderline significant for marker rs611646 of ATM (involved in DSR; p=0.055), but was the most significant finding in the sample of families (p=0.009). Our data indicate that gene variation impacts measurably on DNA damage and repair, suggesting at least a partial contribution to radiation sensitivity and lung cancer susceptibility.

Within the EU RENEB project, seven laboratories have taken part in training and harmonisation activities to strengthen triage gamma-H2AX-based radiation exposure assessment. This has culminated in a second triage biodosimetry exercise.Whole blood and separated lymphocyte samples were homogenously irradiated withAverage dose estimates across all the laboratories correlated well with true doses. The most accurate assignment of triage category was achieved by manual scoring of the 4-h blood and lymphocyte samples. Only three samples out of a total of 46 were miscategorized in a way that could have adversely effected the clinical management of a radiation casualty.This inter-comparison exercise has demonstrated that following a recent acute radiation exposure, the gamma-H2AX assay could be a useful triage tool that can be successfully applied across a network of laboratories.

Radiation sensitivity is assumed to be a cancer susceptibility factor due to impaired DNA damage signalling and repair. Relevant genetic factors may also determine the observed familial aggregation of early onset lung cancer. We investigated the heritability of radiation sensitivity in families of 177 Caucasian cases of early onset lung cancer. In total 798 individuals were characterized for their radiation-induced DNA damage response. DNA damage analysis was performed by alkaline comet assay before and after in vitro irradiation of isolated lymphocytes. The cells were exposed to a dose of 4 Gy and allowed to repair induced DNA-damage up to 60 minutes. The primary outcome parameter Olive Tail Moment was the basis for heritability estimates. Heritability was highest for basal damage (without irradiation) 70% (95%-CI: 51%–88%) and initial damage (directly after irradiation) 65% (95%-CI: 47%–83%) and decreased to 20%–48% for the residual damage after different repair times. Hence our study supports the hypothesis that genomic instability represented by the basal DNA damage as well as radiation induced and repaired damage is highly heritable. Genes influencing genome instability and DNA repair are therefore of major interest for the etiology of lung cancer in the young. The comet assay represents a proper tool to investigate heritability of the radiation sensitive phenotype. Our results are in good agreement with other mutagen sensitivity assays.

The COMET assay is recognized as a rapid and sensitive method in quantifying radiation induced DNA damage. We investigated the distorting influence of endogenous, assay-inherent factors onto base (single cell level) and primary outcome measures (experimental/slide level), such as olive tail moment (OTM) and percentage DNA in the tail (%tail-DNA). From 2003 to 2008, we performed the assay on lymphocytes isolated from the blood samples of 355 lung cancer patients, 170 controls, and 610 relatives, as well as one single reference individual, repeated 170 times. In total, the data from 10,016 single experiments containing around 1,750,000 cells have been included in this study. This is the first time that the endogenous variability of the COMET assay has been validated systematically on such a huge data set over a 5 year period. Assuming that the reference sample reflects assay specific white noise, we estimated a proportion of 7-95% of the variability of the outcome measures due to assay variation (white noise) depending on parameter, exposure level, and study group. The proportion of white noise was largest for the initial radiation damage. The specific endogenous factors considered attribute to 14.8% of the total variability in the primary outcome measurements of the OTM and 6.9% of the %tail-DNA. OTM turns out to be a sensitive parameter to detect variation, but is also more susceptible to disturbance caused by endogenous factors than %tail-DNA. To reduce the experimental variability in COMET assays, we recommend a highly standardized operation protocol as well as inspecting and/or adjusting the primary outcome measures according to endogenous factors before calculating secondary outcome measures, e.g. DNA repair capacity (DRC) or testing statistical inference. A human reference (HR) sample is also useful to inspect homogeneity in the temporal progression of long lasting investigations, but not for calibrating primary outcome measurements.

Cataracts are the major eye disorder and have been associated mainly with mutations in lens-specific genes, but cataracts are also frequently associated with complex syndromes. In a large-scale high-throughput ENU mutagenesis screen we analyzed the offspring of paternally treated C3HeB/FeJ mice for obvious dysmorphologies. We identified a mutant suffering from rough coat and small eyes only in homozygotes; homozygous females turned out to be sterile. The mutation was mapped to chromosome 7 between the markers 116J6.1 and D7Mit294;4 other markers within this interval did not show any recombination among 160 F2-mutants. The critical interval (8.6 Mb) contains 3 candidate genes (Apoe, Six5, Opa3); none of them showed a mutation. Using exome sequencing, we identified a c.2209T>C mutation in the Xpd/Ercc2 gene leading to a Ser737Pro exchange. During embryonic development, the mutant eyes did not show major changes. Postnatal histological analyses demonstrated small cortical vacuoles; later, cortical cataracts developed. Since XPD/ERCC2 is involved in DNA repair, we checked also for the presence of the repair-associated histone γH2AX in the lens. During the time, when primary lens fiber cell nuclei are degraded, γH2AX was strongly expressed in the cell nuclei; later, it demarcates clearly the border of the lens cortex to the organelle-free zone. Moreover, we analyzed also whether seemingly healthy heterozygotes might be less efficient in repair of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation than wild types. Peripheral lymphocytes irradiated by 1Gy Cs137 showed 6 hrs after irradiation significantly more γH2AX foci in heterozygotes than in wild types. These findings demonstrate the importance of XPD/ERCC2 not only for lens fiber cell differentiation, but also for the sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Based upon these data, we hypothesize that variations in the human XPD/ERCC2 gene might increase the susceptibility for several disorders besides Xeroderma pigmentosum in heterozygotes under particular environmental conditions.

On the Stabilization of Suboxide Phases by Carbide Ions: The Crystal Structure of Sr21Si2O5C6 Metallic brass-coloured crystals of Sr21Si2O5C6were isolated from samples starting from the educts Sr : SiO : C = 21 : 2 : 6 heated under argon atmosphere in corundum crucibles up to 1150 K. The air-sensitive compound crystallizes in the cubic system, space group = 1914,56(19) pm, Z = 8. In the crystal structure the Si, O and C atoms are coordinated only by Sr atoms forming distorted icosahedra around Si and distorted octahedra around O and C. The compound can be classified as an electron precise Zintl phase according to (Sr2+)21(Si4−)2(O2−)5(C4−)6.

Die metallisch dunkelgraue, sehr hydrolyseempfindliche Verbindung Ba5P9 lasst sich aus der Stochiometrie entsprechenden Gemengen der Elemente erhalten. Sie kristallisiert orthorhombisch in der Raumgruppe Fdd2 (a = 1562, 6(1) pm, b = 1896, 8(2) pm, c = 1027, 2(2) pm; Z = 8). In der Kristallstruktur liegen P9-Kettenfragmente vor, die von den Ba-Kationen separiert werden. Bei ionischer Formulierung resultiert fur das Anion die Ladung 10-, nach der (8-N)-Regel sind aber 11 Elektronen zur Valenzabsattigung notig. Nach magnetischen Messungen ist das P9-Anion kein Radikal, so dass eine Stabilisierung uber Doppelbindungen zu diskutieren ist. A Polyphosphide of Unusual Composition: The Crystal Structure of Ba5P9 The metallic grey compound Ba5P9 can be synthesised from the elements in stoichiometric amounts. It reacts easily with moist air. In the crystal structure (orthorhombic, Fdd2 , a = 1562.6(1) pm, b = 1896.8(2) pm, c = 1027.2(2) pm; Z = 8) anionic P9 chain fragments are separated by Ba cations. With respect to the stoichiometry a charge of 10- results for the polyphosphide anion, but 11 electrons are needed following the (8-N) rule. According to magnetic measurements the anionic unit is no radical, so a stabilisation by double bonds is discussed.

Die silbrig bis dunkelmetallisch glanzenden Verbindungen (E1)4(E2)2[Sn(E15)4] (E1 = Na, K; E2 = Ca, Sr, Ba; E15 = P, As, Sb, Bi) wurden durch Schmelzreaktionen, ausgehend von der Zusammensetzung entsprechenden Gemengen der Elemente erhalten. Sie kristallisieren im Na6[ZnO4]-Typ (hexagonal, Raumgruppe: P63mc, Z = 2; Na4Ca2[SnP4]: a = 938,94(7), c = 710,09(8) pm; K4Sr2[SnAs4]: a = 1045,0(2), c = 767,0(1) pm; K4Ba2[SnP4]: a = 1029,1(6), c = 780,2(4) pm; K4Ba2[SnAs4]: a = 1051,3(1), c = 795,79(7) pm; K4Ba2[SnSb4]: a = 1116,9(2), c = 829,2(1) pm; K4Ba2[SnBi4]: a = 1139,5(2), c = 832,0(2) pm). Die Anionenteilstruktur ist durch isolierte Tetraedereinheiten [Sn(E15)4]8– charakterisiert, die entlang [001] alle gleichsinnig ausgerichtet sind. In der Kationenteilstruktur besetzen Alkali- und Erdalkalimetallkationen eine der beiden Punktlagen gemeinsam, wahrend die zweite nur von Alkalimetallkationen eingenommen wird. Nur K4Sr2[SnAs4] konnte bisher in einer weiteren Modifikation isoliert werden, die eine Uberstrukturvariante mit dreifachem Zellvolumen (hexagonal, Raumgruppe: P63cm, Z = 6; a = 1801,3(2), c = 767,00(9) pm) und geordneter Kationenteilstruktur darstellt. Pnictogenidostannates(IV) with Discrete Tetrahedral Anions: New Representatives (E1)4(E2)2[Sn(E15)4] (with E1 = Na, K; E2 = Ca, Sr, Ba; E15 = P, As, Sb, Bi) of the Na6[ZnO4] Type and the Superstructure Variant of K4Sr2[SnAs4] The silvery to dark metallic lustrous compounds (E1)4(E2)2[Sn(E15)4] (E1 = Na, K; E2 = Ca, Sr, Ba; E15 = P, As, Sb, Bi) were prepared from melts of stoichiometric mixtures of the elements. They crystallize in the Na6[ZnO4]-type structure (hexagonal, space group: P63mc, Z = 2; Na4Ca2[SnP4]: a = 938.94(7), c = 710.09(8) pm; K4Sr2[SnAs4]: a = 1045.0(2), c = 767.0(1) pm; K4Ba2[SnP4]: a = 1029.1(6), c = 780.2(4) pm; K4Ba2[SnAs4]: a = 1051.3(1), c = 795.79(7) pm; K4Ba2[SnSb4]: a = 1116.9(2), c = 829.2(1) pm; K4Ba2[SnBi4]: a = 1139.5(2), c = 832.0(2) pm). The anionic partial structure consists of tetrahedra [Sn(E15)4]8– orientated all in the same direction along [001]. In the cationic partial structure one of the two cation positions is occupied statistically by alkali and alkaline earth metal atoms. Up to now only for K4Sr2[SnAs4] a second modification could be isolated, forming a superstructure type with three times the unit cell volume (hexagonal, space group: P63cm, Z = 6; a = 1801.3(2), c = 767.00(9) pm) and an ordered cationic partial structure.

Die schwarzen, metallisch glanzenden, sehr hydrolyseempfindlichen Verbindungen K2Ba3Sb4 und KBa4Sb3O wurden aus Schmelzreaktionen, ausgehend von der Stochiometrie entsprechenden Gemengen der Elemente – bei KBa4Sb3O auserdem Sb2O3 – erhalten. K2Ba3Sb4 kristallisiert orthorhombisch in der Raumgruppe Pnma (a = 870,5(1) pm, b = 1770,2(2) pm, c = 923,6(1) pm, Z = 4) und ist die erste Sb-Verbindung, die in der Anionenteilstruktur ausschlieslich [Sb2]4–-Hanteln aufweist. KBa4Sb3O kristallisiert tetragonal in der Raumgruppe I4/mcm (a = 882,4(1) pm, c = 1659,3(2) pm, Z = 4). In der Anionenteilstruktur bildet Antimon sowohl [Sb2]4–-Hanteln als auch isolierte Sb3–-Ionen. Jedes Antimon-Atom der Hanteln – in K2Ba3Sb4 wie auch in KBa4Sb3O – ist in Form eines zweifach uberkappten trigonalen Prismas koordiniert. Die isolierten Sb3–-Ionen von KBa4Sb3O bilden die Zentren von zweifach uberkappten tetragonalen Antiprismen, die O2–Ionen besetzen Tetraederlucken. Starting from the Zintl-Concept: Syntheses and Crystal Structures of K2Ba3Sb4 and KBa4Sb3O The black, metallic lustrous, air sensitive compounds K2Ba3Sb4 and KBa4Sb3O were prepared from melts of mixtures of the elements, in case of KBa4Sb3O with a stoichiometric amount of Sb2O3. K2Ba3Sb4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pnma (a = 870.5(1) pm, b = 1770.2(2) pm, c = 923.6(1) pm, Z = 4) and is the first Sb compound with only [Sb2]4– dumbbells in the anionic partial structure. The compound KBa4Sb3O crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group I4/mcm (a = 882.4(1) pm, c = 1659.4(2) pm, Z = 4). In this structure antimony forms [Sb2]4–-dumbbells and isolated ions Sb3–. Each antimony ion of the dumbbells – in K2Ba3Sb4 as well as in KBa4Sb3O – is coordinated in form of a bicapped skew trigonal prism. The isolated Sb3– ions in KBa4Sb3O center bicapped tetragonal antiprisms, the O2– ions occupy tetrahedral voids.

Die metallisch glanzende, sehr hydrolyseempfindliche Verbindung Sr3[Sn2P4] wurde aus Schmelzreaktionen, ausgehend von der Stochiometrie entsprechenden Gemengen der Elemente erhalten. Sr3[Sn2P4] kristallisiert orthorhombisch in der Raumgruppe Cmca (a = 2510,4(9), b = 1259,3(6), c = 1869,3(8), Z = 24). In der Anionenteilstruktur sind sechs zu Si2Cl6 isostrukturelle Baugruppen [Sn2P6] uber jeweils vier gemeinsame P-Liganden zu Ringeinheiten [Sn12P24]36– verknupft. Die Strontium-Kationen sind verzerrt oktaedrisch von P umgeben. Die Atomanordnung last sich als verzerrte kubisch dichteste Packung von P3–-Ionen auffassen, in der geordnet 3/4 der Oktaederlucken durch Sr2+ und 1/4 durch Sn2-Hanteln besetzt sind. Cyclic Phosphidostannate(III) Anions [Sn12P24]36– in Sr3[Sn2P4] The metallic lustrous, air sensitive compound Sr3[Sn2P4] was prepared from melts of mixtures of the elements. Sr3[Sn2P4] crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Cmca (a = 2510,4(9), b = 1259,3(6), c = 1869,3(8), Z = 24). In the anionic partial structure six moieties [Sn2P6] isostructural to Si2Cl6 are linked by each four common P-ligands forming cyclic units [Sn12P24]36–. The strontium cations are octahedrally coordinated by P. The arrangement can be described as a distorted cubic close packing of P3– in which in an ordered manner 3/4 of the octahedral vacancies are occupied by Sr2+ and 1/4 by Sn2-dumbbells.

The focus of the study is an intercomparison of laboratories' dose-assessment performances using the γ-H2AX foci assay as a diagnostic triage tool for rapid individual radiation dose assessment. Homogenously X-irradiated (240 kVp, 1 Gy/min) blood samples for establishing calibration data (0.25-4 Gy) as well as blinded test samples (0.1-6.4 Gy) were incubated at 37°C for 2 and 24 h (repair time) and sent to the participants. The foci assay was performed according to protocols individually established in participating laboratories and therefore varied. The time taken to report dose estimates was documented for each laboratory. Additional information concerning laboratory organization/characteristics as well as assay performance was collected. The mean absolute difference (MAD) of estimated doses relative to the actual doses was calculated and radiation doses were merged into four triage categories reflecting clinical relevance to calculate accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. First γ-H2AX based dose estimates were reported 7 h after sample receipt. Estimates were similarly accurate for 2 and 24 h repair times, providing scope for its use in the early phase of a radiation exposure incident. Equal accuracy was achieved by scoring 20, 30, 40 or 50 cells per sample. However, MAD values of 0.5-0.7 Gy and 1.3-1.7 Gy divided the data sets into two groups, driven mainly by the considerable differences in foci yields between calibration and blind samples. Foci yields also varied dramatically between laboratories, highlighting reproducibility issues as an important caveat of the foci assay. Nonetheless, foci counts could distinguish high- and low-dose samples in all data sets and binary dose categories of clinical significance could be discriminated with satisfactory accuracy (mean 84%, ±0.03 SEM). Overall, the results suggest that the γ-H2AX assay is a useful tool for rapidly screening individuals for significant exposures that occurred up to at least 24 h earlier, and may help to prioritize cytogenetic dosimetry follow-up.

Radiotherapy is a powerful cure for several types of solid tumours, but its application is often limited because of severe side effects in individual patients. With the aim to find biomarkers capable of predicting normal tissue side reactions we analysed the radiation responses of cells from individual head and neck tumour and breast cancer patients of different clinical radiosensitivity in a multicentric study. Multiple parameters of cellular radiosensitivity were analysed in coded samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from 15 clinical radio-hypersensitive tumour patients and compared to age- and sex-matched non-radiosensitive patient controls and 15 lymphoblastoid cell lines from age- and sex- matched healthy controls of the KORA study. Experimental parameters included ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cell death (AnnexinV), induction and repair of DNA strand breaks (Comet assay), induction of yH2AX foci (as a result of DNA double strand breaks), and whole genome expression analyses. Considerable inter-individual differences in IR-induced DNA strand breaks and their repair and/or cell death could be detected in primary and immortalised cells with the applied assays. The group of clinically radiosensitive patients was not unequivocally distinguishable from normal responding patients nor were individual overreacting patients in the test system unambiguously identified by two different laboratories. Thus, the in vitro test systems investigated here seem not to be appropriate for a general prediction of clinical reactions during or after radiotherapy due to the experimental variability compared to the small effect of radiation sensitivity. Genome-wide expression analysis however revealed a set of 67 marker genes which were differentially induced 6 h after in vitro-irradiation in lymphocytes from radio-hypersensitive and non-radiosensitive patients. These results warrant future validation in larger cohorts in order to determine parameters potentially predictive for clinical radiosensitivity.

In this pilot study we compared for the first time the radiation sensitivity of mouse lens epithelial cells (LECs) and mouse lymphocytes. We freshly prepared LECs and lymphocytes and irradiated them with γ-rays ((137)Cs; doses ranging from 0.25 to 2 Gy). DNA damage and repair were evaluated by alkaline comet assay and γH2AX foci assay. Using the comet assay, we observed a dose-dependent increase in DNA damage in both cell types. The faster formation of single- and double-strand breaks in LECs of C57BL/6 mice at doses below 1 Gy needs to be confirmed in other mouse strains. Immunofluorescence for γH2AX foci showed a higher degree of lesions in LECs from C57BL/6J mice compared to those of JF1 mice and to lymphocytes of both strains. Correspondingly, repair of DNA damage proceeded faster in LECs of C57BL/6J mice compared to LECs of JF1 mice and lymphocytes of both strains. It is obvious that the lymphocytes of both strains repaired DNA lesions more slowly than the corresponding LECs. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that LECs of C57Bl/6 mice show a steeper dose-response than lymphocytes in both types of experiments. It shows that both test systems are able to be used also at doses below 0.25 Gy. The observed difference in DNA repair between the LECs from C57BL/6J mice compared to the LECs from JF1 mice and to the lymphocytes of both strains warrants further experiments to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced alterations in posttranslational histone modifications (PTMs) may affect the cellular response to radiation damage in the DNA. If not reverted appropriately, altered PTM patterns may cause long-term alterations in gene expression regulation and thus lead to cancer. It is therefore important to characterize radiation-induced alterations in PTM patterns and the factors affecting them. METHODS: A lymphoblastoid cell line established from a normal donor was used to screen for alterations in methylation levels at H3K4, H3K9, H3K27, and H4K20, as well as acetylation at H3K9, H3K56, H4K5, and H4K16, by quantitative Western Blot analysis at 15 min, 1 h and 24 h after irradiation with 2 Gy and 10 Gy. The variability of alterations in acetylation marks was in addition investigated in a panel of lymphoblastoid cell lines with differing radiosensitivity established from lung cancer patients. RESULTS: The screening procedure demonstrated consistent hypomethylation at H3K4me3 and hypoacetylation at all acetylation marks tested. In the panel of lymphoblastoid cell lines, however, a high degree of inter-individual variability became apparent. Radiosensitive cell lines showed more pronounced and longer lasting H4K16 hypoacetylation than radioresistant lines, which correlates with higher levels of residual gamma-H2AX foci after 24 h. CONCLUSION: So far, the factors affecting extent and duration of radiation-induced histone alterations are poorly defined. The present work hints at a high degree of inter-individual variability and a potential correlation of DNA damage repair capacity and alterations in PTM levels. &nbsp