journal article·2021-09-24Open access

Low Dose Ionising Radiation-Induced Hormesis: Therapeutic Implications to Human Health

Yeh Siang Lau, Ming Tsuey Chew, Amal Alqahtani, Bleddyn Jones, Mark A. Hill, Andrew Nisbet, David A. Bradley

Applied Sciences· Volume 11· Issue 19

Abstract

The concept of radiation-induced hormesis, whereby a low dose is beneficial and a high dose is detrimental, has been gaining attention in the fields of molecular biology, environmental toxicology and radiation biology. There is a growing body of literature that recognises the importance of hormetic dose response not only in the radiation field, but also with molecular agents. However, there is continuing debate on the magnitude and mechanism of radiation hormetic dose response, which could make further contributions, as a research tool, to science and perhaps eventually to public health due to potential therapeutic benefits for society. The biological phenomena of low dose ionising radiation (LDIR) includes bystander effects, adaptive response, hypersensitivity, radioresistance and genomic instability. In this review, the beneficial and the detrimental effects of LDIR-induced hormesis are explored, together with an overview of its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that may potentially provide an insight to the therapeutic implications to human health in the future.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Effects of Radiation Exposure · Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry · Nuclear Issues and Defense

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia

College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia

CRUK/MRC Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology & Biology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK

Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Malet Place Engineering Building, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Department of Physics, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK

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