Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers

Ma, Lanfang; Zhang, Yu; Xu, Jie; Yu, Yanan; Zhou, Pingkun; Liu, Xiuhua; Guan, Hua

doi:10.3390/ijms26073342

Open AccessReview

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers

by

Lanfang Ma

^1,2,

Yu Zhang

^2,3,

Jie Xu

²,

Yanan Yu

^2,3,

Pingkun Zhou

²,

Xiuhua Liu

^1,* and

Hua Guan

^1,2,*

¹

College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China

²

Beijing Key Laboratory for Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Biology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China

³

College of Public Health, University of South China, 28 West Changsheng Road, Hengyang 421000, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3342; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073342

Submission received: 3 March 2025 / Revised: 24 March 2025 / Accepted: 28 March 2025 / Published: 3 April 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)

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Abstract

DNA methylation is a common endogenous chemical modification in eukaryotic DNA, primarily involving the covalent attachment of a methyl group to the fifth carbon of cytosine residues, leading to the formation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC). This epigenetic modification plays a crucial role in gene expression regulation and genomic stability maintenance in eukaryotic systems. Ionizing radiation (IR) has been shown to induce changes in global DNA methylation patterns, which exhibit significant temporal stability. This stability makes DNA methylation profiles promising candidates for radiation-specific biomarkers. This review systematically examines the impact of IR on genome-wide DNA methylation landscapes and evaluates their potential as molecular indicators of radiation exposure. Advancing the knowledge of radiation-induced epigenetic modifications in radiobiology contributes to a deeper understanding of IR-driven epigenetic reprogramming and facilitates the development of novel molecular tools for the early detection and quantitative risk assessment of radiation exposure.

Keywords: DNA methylation; ionizing radiation; biomarkers; radiation protection; epigenetics; radiation exposure assessment

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ma, L.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, J.; Yu, Y.; Zhou, P.; Liu, X.; Guan, H. Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073342

AMA Style

Ma L, Zhang Y, Xu J, Yu Y, Zhou P, Liu X, Guan H. Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(7):3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073342

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ma, Lanfang, Yu Zhang, Jie Xu, Yanan Yu, Pingkun Zhou, Xiuhua Liu, and Hua Guan. 2025. "Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 7: 3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073342

APA Style

Ma, L., Zhang, Y., Xu, J., Yu, Y., Zhou, P., Liu, X., & Guan, H. (2025). Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(7), 3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073342

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Effects of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Methylation Patterns and Their Potential as Biomarkers

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