Epigenetic Effects and Non-DNA Targets of Ionizing Radiation

Dear Colleagues,

Radiation science, in particular that dealing with ionizing radiation, is a relatively recent discipline, since our scientific community first became aware of it just a little over a century ago, with the discovery of X-rays and natural radioactivity. After some initial enthusiastic attempts to treat nearly every kind of illness or discomfort with this radiation, the discovery of its harmful effects brought its practical applications in health sciences to a fork, separating them into radiation therapy and radiation protection. In both cases, the underlying basic mechanisms are almost always assumed to be related to the “radiation damage” of the DNA in the irradiated cells.

However, in recent decades, evidence of the non-DNA targeted effects of ionizing radiation, such as bystander/abscopal effects and adaptive response, have raised concerns about the magnitude of low-dose radiation risk and supported the view that radiation induces cell response other than “radiation damage”. Epigenetic and other non-DNA-targeted effects appear to be related and involved in a variety of cell responses to ionizing radiation, including mitochondrial and extranuclear modifications and triggering of defense mechanisms of the cell. Therefore, even though the existence of radiation-induced DNA damage is not in doubt, it must be considered that the cellular and molecular modifications following radiation exposure are much more complex, and particularly relevant at low doses.

This Special Issue is focused on collecting significant works on this topic, including original research, reviews, and commentaries, so as to provide an open-source of information that can help to formulate a more comprehensive and broader view of cellular and molecular response to ionizing radiation, which will be useful not only for the advancement of radiation biology but also for applications in radiation protection and therapy.

Dr. Mauro Belli
Prof. Antonella Sgura
Guest Editors

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