Acute biological effects of simulating the whole-body radiation dose distribution from a solar particle event using a porcine model
Open accessAbstract
In a solar particle event (SPE), an unshielded astronaut would receive proton radiation with an energy profile that produces a highly inhomogeneous dose distribution (skin receiving a greater dose than internal organs). The novel concept of using megavoltage electron-beam radiation to more accurately reproduce both the total dose and the dose distribution of SPE protons and make meaningful RBE comparisons between protons and conventional radiation has been described previously. Here, Yucatan minipigs were used to determine the effects of a superficial, SPE-like proton dose distribution using megavoltage electrons. In these experiments, dose-dependent increases in skin pigmentation, ulceration, keratinocyte necrosis and pigment incontinence were observed. Five of 18 animals (one each exposed to 7.5 Gy and 12.5 Gy radiation and three exposed to 25 Gy radiation) developed symptomatic, radiation-associated pneumonopathy approximately 90 days postirradiation. The three animals from the highest dose group showed evidence of mycoplasmal pneumonia along with radiation pneumonitis. Moreover, delayed-type hypersensitivity was found to be altered, suggesting that superficial irradiation of the skin with ionizing radiation might cause immune dysfunction or dysregulation. In conclusion, using total doses, patterns of dose distribution, and dose rates that are compatible with potential astronaut exposure to SPE radiation, animals experienced significant toxicities that were qualitatively different from toxicities previously reported in pigs for homogeneously delivered radiation at similar doses.
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In the mini-pig, high doses of SPE-like radiation resulted in adverse effects to the skin, as well as to deeper organs and tissues (e.g., decrease in circulating blood cells, lung damage and impaired heart function).
“In the mini-pig, it was demonstrated that high doses of SPE-like radiation resulted in adverse effects to the skin, as well as to deeper organs and tissues (e.g., decrease in circulating blood cells [63], lung damage [63] and impaired heart function [64]).”
From Space Radiation: The number one risk to astronaut health beyond low earth orbit (2014) · cites this paper as [63]
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- Authors
- Wilson, J. M., Sanzari, J. K., Diffenderfer, E. S., Yee, S. S., Seykora, J. T., Maks, C., Ware, J. H., Litt, H. I., Reetz, J. A., McDonough, J., Weissman, D., Kennedy, A. R., & Cengel, K. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cengel, Keith A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Radiation Research
- Publisher
- Radiation Research Society
- Published
- 2011-11
- Volume
- 176
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 649-659
- ISSN
- 0033-7587 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-5404
- PMC
- PMC3382987
- OpenAlex
- W2123829933
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 2.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Radiation Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Cancer Institute (T32CA009677)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (P30AR057217)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Effects of Radiation Exposure
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
- Keywords
- solar energetic particle events, proton radiation, megavoltage electron beams, dose distribution, radiation dermatitis, radiation pneumonitis, mycoplasmal pneumonia, delayed-type hypersensitivity, immune dysfunction, radiation dose rate, astronaut radiation exposure
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Electrons, Immunologic Tests, Leukocytes, Radiometry, Skin, Space Flight, Swine, Whole-Body Irradiation, Astronauts, Solar Activity, Models, Animal
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