Effects of Neutron and Gamma Rays Combined Irradiation on the Transcriptional Profile of Human Peripheral Blood

We studied the effects of neutrons, neutrons and gamma rays, and gamma rays exposures on the transcription spectrum in human peripheral blood of three healthy adult men. Samples were irradiated with 1.42 Gy 2.5-MeV neutrons, 0.71 Gy neutrons and 0.71 Gy Cs-137 gamma rays, and 1.42 Gy Cs-137 gamma rays. Transcriptome sequencing identified 56 differentially coexpressed genes and enriched 26 KEGG pathways. There are 97, 45 and 30 differentially expressed genes in neutron, neutron and gamma ray combined treatment, and gamma rays, respectively, and 21, 3 and 8 KEGG pathways with significant differences are enriched. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) verified differential co-expression of AEN, BAX, DDB2, FDXR, and MDM2. Additionally, irradiation of AHH-1 human lymphocytes with a Cf-252 neutron source at 0, 0.14, 0.35, and 0.71 Gy, fluorescence qPCR revealed a dose-response relationship for BAX, DDB2, and FDXR at dose ranges of 0-0.71 Gy, with R-2 of 0.803, 0.999, and 0.999, respectively. Thus, neutrons can induce more differentially expressed genes and enrich more pathways. Combined treatment of neutrons and gamma-rays may incorporate damage of both high and low LET, the genes activated by neutrons and gamma rays combined are almost the combination of genes activated by neutron and gamma-rays combined treatment. BAX, DDB2 and FDXR are differentially expressed after irradiation by Deuterium-Deuterium (D-D) neutron source and Cf-252 neutron source, so they are expected to be molecular targets of neutron damage. (c) 2023 by Radiation Research Society