Effect of ionizing radiation on the pteridine metabolic pathway and evaluation of its cytotoxicity in exposed hospital staff

Investigations carried out to estimate the effect of long-term occupational exposure to low levels of external ionizing radiation indicated that exposed hospital staff showed an increase in chromosome aberrations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether genomic instability or an alteration in pteridine synthesis could be used as a marker of the potential hazard of ionizing radiation in hospital workers. Twenty gamma-radiation- and 33 X-ray-exposed technicians working in radiotherapy and radio-diagnostic units were included in this study, along with 22 healthy matched individuals. Plasma concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate (NO(x)) were measured to estimate reactive nitrogen species. Urinary neopterin, biopterin and creatinine concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography to determine metabolic activity along the pteridine pathway. Sister chromatid exchange was used as a measure of mutagenicity. Apoptosis was evaluated morphologically and also with a DNA-fragmentation test. The plasma NO(x) levels of both gamma-radiation- and X-ray-exposed technicians were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls (p<0.05). While the urinary biopterin concentrations were significantly higher in radiation-exposed groups compared with the healthy subjects (p<0.05), urinary neopterin concentrations remained unchanged. The apoptosis rates of gamma-radiation- and X-ray-exposed workers were significantly elevated in comparison with those in the control group (both p<0.05). Also, the increase in sister chromatid exchange frequency was significant in each of the radiation-exposed groups (exposed groups versus controls; p<0.05). These results indicate that long-term exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation, even below the permitted levels, could result in increased oxidative stress, which may lead to DNA damage and mutagenicity.