School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK.
School of Health, Science and Wellbeing, Department of Biological Sciences, Science Centre, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-On-Trent, ST4 2DF, UK.
Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 17;13(1):918. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26976-4.
Mankind's quest for a manned mission to Mars is placing increased emphasis on the development of innovative radio-protective countermeasures for long-term space travel. Hibernation confers radio-protective effects in hibernating animals, and this has led to the investigation of synthetic torpor to mitigate the deleterious effects of chronic low-dose-rate radiation exposure. Here we describe an induced torpor model we developed using the zebrafish. We explored the effects of radiation exposure on this model with a focus on the liver. Transcriptomic and behavioural analyses were performed. Radiation exposure resulted in transcriptomic perturbations in lipid metabolism and absorption, wound healing, immune response, and fibrogenic pathways. Induced torpor reduced metabolism and increased pro-survival, anti-apoptotic, and DNA repair pathways. Coupled with radiation exposure, induced torpor led to a stress response but also revealed maintenance of DNA repair mechanisms, pro-survival and anti-apoptotic signals. To further characterise our model of induced torpor, the zebrafish model was compared with hepatic transcriptomic data from hibernating grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and active controls revealing conserved responses in gene expression associated with anti-apoptotic processes, DNA damage repair, cell survival, proliferation, and antioxidant response. Similarly, the radiation group was compared with space-flown mice revealing shared changes in lipid metabolism.
人类对载人火星任务的探索，使得人们更加注重开发创新的放射性防护对策，以应对长期的太空旅行。动物冬眠具有放射性防护作用，这促使人们研究合成休眠来减轻慢性低剂量率辐射暴露的有害影响。在这里，我们描述了一种使用斑马鱼开发的诱导休眠模型。我们研究了辐射暴露对该模型的影响，重点是肝脏。进行了转录组和行为分析。辐射暴露导致脂质代谢和吸收、伤口愈合、免疫反应和纤维发生途径的转录组扰动。诱导休眠降低了新陈代谢，增加了生存、抗凋亡和 DNA 修复途径。与辐射暴露相结合，诱导休眠导致应激反应，但也揭示了 DNA 修复机制、生存和抗凋亡信号的维持。为了进一步描述我们的诱导休眠模型，将斑马鱼模型与冬眠灰熊（Ursus arctos horribilis）和活跃对照的肝脏转录组数据进行了比较，揭示了与抗凋亡过程、DNA 损伤修复、细胞存活、增殖和抗氧化反应相关的基因表达的保守反应。同样，将辐射组与太空飞行的小鼠进行了比较，揭示了脂质代谢的共同变化。
