Breakthrough discovery reveals tardigrade protein can reduce DNA damage caused by radiation in mice, offering new hope for cancer patients suffering from debilitating side effects.
A team of researchers has discovered that a protein unique to tardigrades can help reduce DNA damage caused by radiation in mice.
Radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer, but it can lead to devastating side effects. When radiation attacks tumor cells, it also damages healthy tissue near the tumors, causing pain and discomfort. People undergoing head and neck cancer treatment may develop damaged throats or mouths, making eating and drinking extremely painful.
Tardigrades are tiny animals that can survive extreme conditions, including radiation doses about 1,000 times the lethal dose to humans. They produce a key damage-suppressor protein called Dsup, which binds to their DNA to protect them from radiation. Researchers have engineered mice to produce this protein, and the results are promising.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic eight-legged animals that can withstand extreme conditions.
They can survive in temperatures from -200°C to 150°C, and pressures up to 6,000 atmospheres.
Tardigrades have a unique ability to dry out their bodies, entering a state of anhydrobiosis, where they become desiccated and enter a state of suspended animation.
This allows them to survive without water for extended periods.
The researchers used lipid nanoparticles to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) with instructions for creating the Dsup protein directly into mouse cheek and rectum cells. When exposed to radiation, the DNA of mice producing Dsup proteins showed fewer signs of radiation-induced damage compared to the DNA of mice that couldn’t make Dsup.
The discovery highlights the potential benefits of research into basic science areas like DNA damage in tardigrades. With new delivery mechanisms, such as hydrogels, researchers aim to develop a patient-friendly system to deliver the mRNA to human cells. The ultimate goal is to use nature’s optimized radiation protection to help patient care in the long term.
The researchers plan to carefully evaluate the safety of this system before testing it on humans. Since tardigrade mRNA is foreign to humans, they want to ensure that injecting it doesn’t lead to adverse reactions. With further development and testing, this breakthrough could lead to new treatments for radiation-related side effects in cancer patients.
- sciencenews.org | A tardigrade protein helped reduce radiation damage in mice
