Assessment of Adaptive Response of Gamma Radiation in the Operating Room Personnel Exposed to Anesthetic Gases by Measuring the Relative Gene Expression Changes Ku80, Ligase1 and P53

Some operating room personnel are occupationally exposed to genotoxic agents such as anesthetic gases and ionizing radiation. Adaptive response, as a defense mechanism, will occur when cells become exposed to a low dose of factors harming DNA (priming dose), which in the subsequent exposure to higher dose of those factors (challenging dose), show more resistance and sensibility..

The aim of this study was to investigate adaptive response or synergy of ionizing radiation in the operating room personnel exposed to anesthetic gases by evaluation of the relative gene expression changes of effective genes for DNA repair such as Ku80, Ligase1 and P53.

In this case-control study, 20 operating room personnel and 20 nurses (who were not present in the operating room) as controls were studied. Venous blood samples were drawn from participants. In order to evaluate the adaptive response, a challenging dose of 2Gy gamma radiation was applied to blood samples. Moreover, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed. Gene expression level was studied by RT-qPCR and compared with the control group.

 Ligase1 and P53 expression in the operating room personnel was significantly higher than that of the control group before irradiation (P˂0.001). Statistically, there was no significant difference in the Ku80 and P53 expression in the operating room personnel before and after irradiation.

Given the findings of this study, exposure to challenging dose of gamma radiation can induce adaptive response in expression of Ku80 and P53 genes in operating room personnel.