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Clastogenic plasma factors: a short overview

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Abstract

A large number of studies have revealed that irradiated subjects produce soluble factors found in their blood plasma which, when transferred into cell cultures from non-irradiated individuals, show clastogenic (chromosome breaking) activity. Increased yields of chromatid-type aberrations have been characteristic in most of these studies. Exposed cohorts of various origins have revealed to possess this feature: from A-bomb survivors to patients treated with radiotherapy. It is apparent that the plasma factors are sustainable for long time periods. On the other hand, they seem to be produced very fast after exposure. Considerable variation in the effect has been found between individuals with similar radiation exposure. Further, the phenomenon is not restricted to irradiated populations. Clastogenic plasma has also been observed in patients with inflammatory diseases or congenital chromosome breakage syndromes as well in subjects exposed to other agents than ionizing radiation. Chromosomal aberration inducing substances have been detected not only in vivo, but also in vitro. A common feature to all the conditions is that they are associated with oxidative stress. Studies on the biochemical nature of the clastogenic factor(s) have been conducted, and tumor necrosis factor alpha and lipid peroxidation products, among others, have been suggested as good candidates. The relevance of the plasma factors to health effects remains open. The aim of the paper is to give a short overview on the phenomenon of clastogenic factors—their occurrence and formation as well as possible effectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), P.O. Box 14, 00881, Helsinki, Finland

    Carita Lindholm & Sisko Salomaa

  2. Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK

    Anna Acheva

Authors
  1. Carita Lindholm
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  2. Anna Acheva
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  3. Sisko Salomaa
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Correspondence to Carita Lindholm.

Additional information

This paper is based on a presentation given at the International Conference on Late Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation, 4–6 May 2009, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.

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Lindholm, C., Acheva, A. & Salomaa, S. Clastogenic plasma factors: a short overview. Radiat Environ Biophys 49, 133–138 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-009-0259-3

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