Telomeres consist of GC-rich DNA repeats and the “shelterin” protein complex that together protect chromosome ends from fusion and degradation. Telomeres shorten with age due to incomplete end replication and upon exposure to environmental and intrinsic stressors. Exposure to ionizing radiation is known to modulate telomere length. However, the response of telomere length in humans chronically exposed to radiation is poorly understood. Here, we studied relative telomere length (RTL) by IQ-FISH to leukocyte nuclei in a group of 100 workers from the plutonium production facility at the Mayak Production Association (PA) who were chronically exposed to alpha-emitting (239Pu) radiation and/or gamma (photon) radiation, and 51 local residents serving as controls, with a similar mean age of about 80 years. We applied generalized linear statistical models adjusted for age at biosampling and the second exposure type on a linear scale and observed an age-dependent telomere length reduction. In those individuals with the lowest exposure, a significant reduction of about 20% RTL was observed, both for external gamma radiation (≤1 Gy) and internal alpha radiation (≤0.05–0.1 Gy to the red bone marrow). In highly exposed individuals (>0.1 Gy alpha, 1–1.5 Gy gamma), the RTL was similar to control. Stratification by gender revealed a significant (∼30%) telomere reduction in low-dose-exposed males, which was absent in females. While the gender differences in RTL may reflect different working conditions, lifestyle and/or telomere biology, absence of a dose response in the highly exposed individuals may reflect selection against cells with short telomeres or induction of telomere-protective effects. Our observations suggest that chronic systemic exposure to radiation leads to variable dose-dependent effects on telomere length.
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1 June 2016
REGULAR ARTICLES|
June 01 2016
Telomere Length in Aged Mayak PA Nuclear Workers Chronically Exposed to Internal Alpha and External Gamma Radiation Available to Purchase
Harry Scherthan;
Harry Scherthan
1
aBundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology Affiliated to the University of Ulm, D-80937 Munich, Germany; and
1Address for correspondence: Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology Affiliated to the University of Ulm, D-80937 Munich, Germany; email: [email protected].
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Natalia Sotnik;
Natalia Sotnik
bSouthern Urals Biophysics Institute (SUBI), Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, 456780 Russian Federation
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Michel Peper;
Michel Peper
aBundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology Affiliated to the University of Ulm, D-80937 Munich, Germany; and
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Gerrit Schrock;
Gerrit Schrock
aBundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology Affiliated to the University of Ulm, D-80937 Munich, Germany; and
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Tamara Azizova;
Tamara Azizova
bSouthern Urals Biophysics Institute (SUBI), Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, 456780 Russian Federation
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Michael Abend
Michael Abend
aBundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology Affiliated to the University of Ulm, D-80937 Munich, Germany; and
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Radiat Res (2016) 185 (6): 658–667.
Article history
Received:
September 19 2015
Accepted:
April 27 2016
Citation
Harry Scherthan, Natalia Sotnik, Michel Peper, Gerrit Schrock, Tamara Azizova, Michael Abend; Telomere Length in Aged Mayak PA Nuclear Workers Chronically Exposed to Internal Alpha and External Gamma Radiation. Radiat Res 1 June 2016; 185 (6): 658–667. doi: https://doi.org/10.1667/RR14271.1
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