Changes in sulfur metabolism in mouse brains following radon inhalation

Kanzaki, Norie; Sakoda, Akihiro; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Sun, L.*; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Otsu, Iwao*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), p.10750_1 - 10750_14, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710750

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) involve oxidative stress deeply and contribute anti-inflammatory effect, but no studied have focused on RSS changes after irradiation. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the metabolites, focusing on RSS in mouse brain following radon inhalation. The ratio of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione and proportion of RSS in GSH or cysteine increased by radon inhalation. The sulfur ion might bind to GSH or cysteine chemically under conditions of oxidative stress, even at very low-dose exposure. We performed the overall assessment of high-dimensional data by applying machine learning and showed the specific characteristics of the effects by the exposure conditions. Our results suggested that RSS could produce a biological defense against oxidative stress following radon inhalation.

Radon solubility and diffusion in the skin surface layer

Sakoda, Akihiro; Ishida, Tsuyoshi*; Kanzaki, Norie; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(13), p.7761_1 - 7761_12, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137761

In specific situations such as bathing in a radon spa, where the radon activity concentration in thermal water is far higher than that in air, it has been revealed that radon uptake via skin can occur and should be considered for more precise dose evaluation. The primary aim of the present study was to numerically demonstrate the distribution as well as the degree of diffusion of radon in the skin, with a focus on its surface layers (i.e., stratum corneum). We made a biokinetic model that included diffusion theory at the stratum corneum, and measured radon solubility in the stratum corneum to get a crucial parameter. The implementation of the model suggested that the diffusion coefficient in the stratum corneum was as low as general radon-proof sheets. The depth profile of radon in the skin was found to be that after a 20-minute immersion in water, the radon activity concentration at the top surface skin layer was approximately 1000 times higher than that at the viable skin layer. The information on the position of radon as a radiation source would contribute to special dose evaluation where specific target cell layers are assumed for the skin.

Radon inhalation decreases DNA damage induced by oxidative stress in mouse organs via the activation of antioxidative functions

Kataoka, Takahiro*; Shuto, Hina*; Naoe, Shota*; Yano, Junki*; Kanzaki, Norie; Sakoda, Akihiro; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Hanamoto, Katsumi*; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Terato, Hiroaki*; et al.

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 62(5), p.861 - 867, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrab069

Evaluation of the redox state in mouse organs following radon inhalation

Kataoka, Takahiro*; Kanzaki, Norie; Sakoda, Akihiro; Shuto, Hina*; Yano, Junki*; Naoe, Shota*; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Hanamoto, Katsumi*; Terato, Hiroaki*; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; et al.

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 62(2), p.206 - 216, 2021/03

AA2020-0273.pdf:1.2MB

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rraa129

Radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in mouse organs, thereby contributing to inhibition of oxidative stress-induced damage. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the redox state of various organs in mice following radon inhalation. Mice inhaled radon at concentrations of 2 or 20 kBq/m for 1, 3, or 10 days. The relationship between antioxidative function and oxidative stress was evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation coefficient compared with control mice subjected to sham inhalation. These findings suggested that radon inhalation altered the redox state in organs, but that the characteristics varied depending on the redox state in organs.

Comparison of antioxidative effects between radon and thoron inhalation in mouse organs

Kobashi, Yusuke*; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Kanzaki, Norie; Ishida, Tsuyoshi*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Ishimori, Yuu; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 59(3), p.473 - 482, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00843-0

Radon therapy has been traditionally performed globally for oxidative stress-related diseases. Many researchers have studied the beneficial effects of radon exposure in living organisms. However, the effects of thoron, a radioisotope of radon, have not been fully examined. In this study, we aimed to compare the biological effects of radon and thoron inhalation on mouse organs with a focus on oxidative stress. Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 15 groups: sham inhalation, radon inhalation at a dose of 500 Bq/m or 2000 Bq/m, and thoron inhalation at a dose of 500 Bq/m or 2000 Bq/m were carried out. Immediately after inhalation, mouse tissues were excised for biochemical assays. The results showed a significant increase in superoxide dismutase and total glutathione, and a significant decrease in lipid peroxide following thoron inhalation under several conditions. Additionally, similar effects were observed for different doses and inhalation times between radon and thoron. Our results suggest that thoron inhalation also exerts antioxidative effects against oxidative stress in organs. However, the inhalation conditions should be carefully analyzed because of the differences in physical characteristics between radon and thoron.

Protective effects of hot spring water drinking and radon inhalation on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice

Etani, Reo*; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Kanzaki, Norie*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Ishimori, Yuu; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Taguchi, Takehito*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Journal of Radiation Research, 58(5), p.614 - 625, 2017/05

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrx021

Radon therapy using radon (Rn) gas is classified into two types of treatment: inhalation of radon gas and drinking water containing radon. Although short- or long-term intake of spa water is effective in increasing gastric mucosal blood flow, and spa water therapy is useful for treating chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer, the underlying mechanisms for and precise effects of radon protection against mucosal injury are unclear. In the present study, we examined the protective effects of hot spring water drinking and radon inhalation on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice. Mice inhaled radon at a concentration of 2000 Be/m for 24 h or were provided with hot spring water for 2 weeks. The activity density of Rn ranged from 663 Bq/l (start point of supplying) to 100 Bq/l (end point of supplying).Mice were then orally administered ethanol at three concentrations. The ulcer index (UI), an indicator of mucosal injury, increased in response to the administration of ethanol; however, treatment with either radon inhalation or hot spring water inhibited the elevation in the UI due to ethanol. Although no significant differences in antioxidative enzymes were observed between the radon-treated groups and the non-treated control groups, lipid peroxide levels were significantly lower in the stomachs of mice pre-treated with radon or hot spring water. These results suggest that hot spring water drinking and radon inhalation inhibit ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury.

Assessment on long-term safety for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste; Application of probabilistic safety assessment methodology to uncertainties in hypothetical geological disposal system (Contract research)

Takeda, Seiji; Yamaguchi, Tetsuji; Nagasawa, Hirokazu; Watanabe, Masatoshi; Sekioka, Yasushi; Kanzaki, Yutaka; Sasaki, Toshihisa; Ochiai, Toru; Munakata, Masahiro; Tanaka, Tadao; et al.

JAEA-Research 2009-034, 239 Pages, 2009/11

JAEA-Research-2009-034.pdf:33.52MB

In safety assessment for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste, it is of consequence to estimate the uncertainties due to the long-term frame associated with long-lived radionuclides and the expanded geological environment. The uncertainties result from heterogeneity intrinsic to engineered and natural barrier materials, insufficient understanding of phenomena occurring in the disposal system, erroneous method of measurement, and incomplete construction. It is possible to quantify or to reduce the uncertainties according to scientific and technological progress. We applied a deterministic and a Monte Carlo-based probabilistic method simulation techniques to the uncertainty analysis for performance of hypothetical geological disposal system for high level radioactive waste. This study provides the method to evaluate the effects of the uncertainties with respect to scenarios, models and parameters in engineering barrier system on radiological consequence. The results also help us to specify prioritized models and parameters to be further studied for long-term safety assessment.

Handling of uncertainty regarding the groundwater migration scenario based on FEP database.

Kanzaki, Yutaka; Takeda, Seiji; Kimura, Hideo

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Simple spot measurement method of equilibrium equivalent radon concentration

Sakoda, Akihiro; Kanzaki, Norie; Tanaka, Hiroshi

no journal, , 

When radon exposure is assessed, equivalent equilibrium radon concentration (EERC) is much more important information than radon concentration itself. The present study focused on spot measurements of EERC to discuss its simple measurement method. Without any assumption of individual concentrations of radon progeny, it was attempted to develop the calibration curve between alpha counts given by a single counting and EERC. To validate this simple technique, the measurement result was compared with that provided by a commercially available device dedicated to radon progeny measurement.

Machine learning based metabolic analysis about the regulation of glutathione synthesis in mouse brain due to radon inhalation

Kanzaki, Norie; Sakoda, Akihiro; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Ishida, Tsuyoshi; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

no journal, , 

We found that glutathione was elevated by radon inhalation. However, the mechanism of production of glutathione has been known quite little. In the present study, the metabolic analysis focusing on the sulfur metabolites including anti-oxidative substances was performed to find the change in sulfur metabolites in mouse brain following radon inhalation. Brains taken from male BALB/c mice after radon exposure at background level, 1000 or 10000 Bq/m for 24 h were used for the exhaustive assay of sulfur metabolism-related substances. As a result, we detected 27 out of 55 metabolites in brain. We found the induction of glutathione precursor cysteine and cystathionine due to radon inhalation. This suggests that the increase of glutathione associated with radon inhalation could rely on the transsulfuration pathway. Moreover, the information on 27 sulfur metabolites detected in the present assay was comprehensively analyzed using self-organizing maps. Based on this clustering, a possibility of sulfur metabolites working as a biomarker for estimating radiation doses will be discussed.