Radiation-induced cardiovascular risks and the potential prophylactic effects of statins

The radiation protection system nowadays is based on the assumption that there is a threshold of low dose radiation below which no significant non-cancer effects are observed. In recent years however, there is growing epidemiological evidence of excess risk of late occurring cardiovascular disease (CVD) at much lower doses without a clear-cut threshold (< 0.5 Gy). For the benefit of public health, it is now from most importance to understand the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms. It is proposed that the vascular endothelium, the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of the vascular system and the heart, is a critical target in ionizing related cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction is known to be a major player in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. In the current project, we will therefore investigate the effects of low dose radiation on endothelial cells in vitro. In particular, we will assess different cellular events that play a role in the initiation and propagation of atherosclerosis, including DNA damage, mitochondrial defects, metabolic reprogramming, cell cycle changes, production of oxidative stress, and cell loss. Moreover, we will perform transcriptomics to analyze from a genetic level the underlying pathways of these responses.