Low Dose Radiation Effects on the Homeostasis and Activation of Immune Cells

Dear Colleagues,

The interactions between the immune system and the response to radiation are complex. On the one hand, irradiation of any part of the body directly affects the immune system, as circulating immune cells are distributed throughout the organism via the blood. Furthermore, immune cells can be concentrated in normal and pathological structures such as lymph nodes and solid tumors, which may be the target of radiation, for example during cancer treatment. On the other hand, as part of the organism’s defenses, the immune system will try to counteract the detrimental effects of radiation exposure and participate in the restoration of tissue homeostasis and functions.

A lot of knowledge have accumulated over time on the effects of high dose radiation on the immune system, and especially on the various forms of radiation-induced cell death and the consequences for immune system activation. In contrast, much less data are available on the effects of low dose radiation exposure, despite the surge in interest for this topic during the last years. Indeed, ionizing radiation exposure in the low to intermediate range induces much less genotoxic damage and cell death, and the effects of such exposures will be dominated by the consequences of cell stress and damage to the various cellular compartments, including an imbalance of the redox status. These effects may manifest as cell autonomous events, or be more diffuse, transmitted to neighboring cells, irradiated or not, by inter-cellular communication, via either cell-cell contact or soluble factors, including inflammatory mediators, and extracellular vesicles. Thus, these effects can result from direct exposure of immune cells, or from their response to irradiated cells, or a combination of both.

In this special issue, we welcome articles from all fields of radiation biology (environmental, occupational and accidental exposure, in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models, medical applications of ionizing radiation) addressing the specific effects of low dose radiation (<100 mGy) on the homeostasis and direct or indirect activation of the immune system, when compared to intermediate and higher dose exposures. These articles can be original research articles or reviews aimed at summarizing a dedicated aspect of the effects of low dose exposure on immune cells.

Dr. Serge Candéias
Dr. Katalin Lumniczky
Guest Editors

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