Utility of biological membranes as indicators for radiation exposure: alterations in membrane structure and function over time.

In addition to interacting with genomic DNA, ionizing radiation may directly and indirectly alter the structure and function of components of the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. Water radiolysis generates reactive species, including superoxide, hypochlorous acid and chloride radicals that may in turn react with biological membranes, as well as with cellular DNA. Reaction of plasma membrane lipids with molecular oxygen results in lipid peroxidation of both reconstituted membranes and biological membranes, an effect that increases with decreasing dose rate. Both ionizing radiation and ultraviolet light alter functions of membrane-anchored molecules, including adhesion molecules, histocompatibility complex antigens and membrane-bound growth factors. The latter growth factors represent a repertoire of growth and differentiation signals that are expressed in a nondiffusible fashion at the cell surface, and in soluble forms appearing after cleavage of their extracellular domain. The importance of cell-cell signaling via the membrane-anchored form of growth factors is becoming increasingly recognized. Expression of membrane-bound hematopoietic cytokines by eukaryotic cells is impaired after exposure to ultraviolet light, a defect in cell-cell signaling that may lead to impaired hematopoiesis. While studies suggest that permanent changes in membrane structure and function may result from radiation-induced injury to the plasma membrane and reconstituted "pure" membranes, reversibility of these defects over time requires additional study.