Bi-directional and shared epigenomic signatures following proton and ⁵⁶Fe irradiation.

ABSTRACT: The brain's response to radiation exposure is an important concern for patients undergoing cancer therapy and astronauts on long missions in deep space. We assessed whether this response is specific and prolonged and is linked to epigenetic mechanisms. We focused on the response of the hippocampus at early (2-weeks) and late (20-week) time points following whole body proton irradiation. We examined two forms of DNA methylation, cytosine methylation (5mC) and hydroxymethylation (5hmC). Impairments in object recognition, spatial memory retention, and network stability following proton irradiation were observed at the two-week time point and correlated with altered gene expression and 5hmC profiles that mapped to specific gene ontology pathways. Significant overlap was observed between DNA me

SUBMITTER: Impey S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5579159 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature