Elucidation of radiation-induced intracellular temperature and pH changes and dynamics

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19969
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 63020:Radiation influence-related
• Research Institution: National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kiichi Kaminaga 国立研究開発法人量子科学技術研究開発機構, 量子生命科学研究所, 研究員 (90825176)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 蛍光ナノダイヤモンド / 細胞内温度 / 放射線影響

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Temperature and pH are factors that alter intracellular protein activity and chemical reaction rates, and even small changes can affect cellular homeostasis via signalling networks. On the other hand, ionising radiation induces various types of damage to DNA and organelles, one of the effects of which may be the induction of temperature and pH changes within the cell. In this study, intracellular temperature measurements after X-ray irradiation using fluorescent nanodiamonds, a type of quantum sensor, revealed that the intracellular temperature measurement increased after 1 hour of X-ray irradiation in cancer and normal cells. In addition, we obtain the results suggest that this temperature increase in normal cells may persist even after a week of X-ray irradiation.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで放射線による細胞影響研究において温度やpHなど物理化学的パラメーターを指標とした検討は前例が少なく、本研究は新たな側面からの放射線影響解明にアプローチしており、これまでにない新規知見を得られると期待される。また、近年、腫瘍内微小環境における温度、pHの重要性も明らかになりつつあり、本研究を拡大することで発がんメカニズムの解明、がん治療の高度化に寄与できると考えられる。