Radiation Exposure and Health: The Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 25

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unité Recherche Aliments Bioprocédés Toxicologie Environnement (ABTE), Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
Interests: radiation biology; mechanisms of individual radiosensitivity; tumor resistance; long-term effects of radiation exposure; oxidative stress signaling; biomarkers

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Translational Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitätsstr. 27, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Interests: radiotherapy; immunotherapy; vaccination; immune checkpoints; hyperthermia; tumor immunology; immunogenic cancer cell death; immunomonitoring; inflammatory and degenerative diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of ionizing radiation in radiotherapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of various malignancies. Beyond direct cytotoxicity, radiotherapy triggers a cascade of biological and immunological effects that extend to the surrounding (normal) tissue, which may receive low doses of ionizing radiation. A central feature of these effects is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress. The disruption of redox homeostasis resulting from an imbalance between ROS production and the tissue’s antioxidants contributes not only to tumor control outcome but also significantly to radiation-induced (immunological) normal tissue toxicity. Oxidative stress inter alia initiates and perpetuates a robust inflammatory response characterized by the activation of transcription factors such as NF-κB and AP-1, the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the recruitment of immune cells to the exposed tissues. While inflammation can support anti-tumor immunity, chronic or excessive inflammation often results in tissue damage, fibrosis, altered metabolic function, and, consequently, compromised tissue/organ function. Understanding the dual roles of oxidative stress and inflammation in radiotherapy is crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes and minimizing adverse effects.

This Special Issue will explore the molecular and clinical mechanisms of radiation-induced oxidative stress and inflammation at both high and low doses. Topics that are non-exclusive but of particular interest include interventions such as antioxidant supplementation, redox-modulating agents, and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies that can ameliorate the adverse effects of radiation exposure.

Prof. Dr. Siamak Haghdoost
Dr. Benjamin Frey
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • radiation
  • inflammatory response
  • oxidative stress

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop