Mechanisms of ROS production and induction of insulin resistance by low-dose-rate gamma ray irradiation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12330
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 63020:Radiation influence-related
• Research Institution: Institute for Environmental Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Sugihara Takashi 公益財団法人環境科学技術研究所, 生物影響研究部, 主任研究員 (50715472)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 低線量率放射線 / インスリン抵抗性 / 3T3-L1細胞 / 脂肪細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We hypothesized that the high rate of fatty liver development in B6C3F1 female mice irradiated with low dose-rate radiation is related to the metabolic changes induced by irradiation, such as the production of ROS and the consequent induction of insulin resistance (IR). In this study, we analyzed 3T3-L1 fibroblasts differentiated into adipocytes as a model. In irradiated 3T3-L1 cells, the expression of both genes involved in ROS production and adipocyte differentiation was increased. Of these, gene expression involved in adipocyte differentiation was regulated by DNA methylation. Since IR was also induced by low-dose-rate irradiation in another strain of mice (C3H), we consider that the phenomenon observed in this study is general in female mice, independent of strain differences.

Free Research Field

放射線生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

福島第一原子力発電所事故などにより大きな関心が寄せられている低線量率放射線長期被ばくの健康影響を明らかにするためには、高線量率放射線の影響の研究のみでは不十分である。近年、低線量率放射線がとりわけ代謝に対して特徴的な影響を与える可能性が、国外の他の研究グループによっても指摘されるようになってきていることは、本研究の学術的、社会的な意義を浮き彫りにしていると考えている。