BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
15 March 2013 Neonatal Irradiation Sensitizes Mice to Delayed Pulmonary Challenge
Carl J. Johnston, Casey M. Manning, Javier Rangel-Moreno, Troy D. Randall, Eric Hernady, Jacob N. Finkelstein, Jacqueline P. Williams
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Significant differences exist between the physiology of the immature, neonatal lung compared to that of the adult lung that may affect acute and late responses to irradiation. Identifying these differences is critical to developing successful mitigation strategies for this special population. Our current hypothesis proposes that irradiation during the neonatal period will alter developmental processes, resulting in long-term consequences, including altered susceptibility to challenge with respiratory pathogens. C57BL/6J mice, 4 days of age, received 5 Gy whole-body irradiation. At subsequent time points (12, 26 and 46 weeks postirradiation), mice were intranasally infected with 120 HAU of influenza A virus. Fourteen days later, mice were sacrificed and tissues were collected for examination. Morbidity was monitored following changes in body weight and survival. The magnitude of the pulmonary response was determined by bronchoalveolar lavage, histological examination and gene expression of epithelial and inflammatory markers. Viral clearance was assessed 7 days post-influenza infection. Following influenza infection, irradiated animals that were infected at 26 and 46 weeks postirradiation lost significantly more weight and demonstrated reduced survival compared with those infected at 12 weeks postirradiation, with the greatest deleterious effect seen at the late time point. The results of these experiments suggest that radiation injury during early life may affect the lung's response to a subsequent pathogenic aerial challenge, possibly through a chronic and progressive defect in the immune system. This finding may have implications for the development of countermeasures in the context of systemic radiation exposure.

Carl J. Johnston, Casey M. Manning, Javier Rangel-Moreno, Troy D. Randall, Eric Hernady, Jacob N. Finkelstein, and Jacqueline P. Williams "Neonatal Irradiation Sensitizes Mice to Delayed Pulmonary Challenge," Radiation Research 179(4), 475-484, (15 March 2013). https://doi.org/10.1667/RR3242.1
Received: 29 October 2012; Accepted: 1 December 2012; Published: 15 March 2013
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top