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Innovative Research: Tardigrade Protein as a Shield Against Radiation Damage in Mice
Recent studies have discovered that a protein derived from tardigrades, microscopic organisms less than a millimeter long, has the potential to shield mice from radiation-induced harm.
Radiation therapy remains a commonly used treatment for cancer, but it often leaves patients grappling with severe side effects. Emerging research, published on February 26 in Nature Biomedical Engineering, shows that mice engineered to produce a unique protective protein from tardigrades experienced significant reductions in radiation damage. This breakthrough raises hopes for alleviating some of the devastating impacts of radiation therapy on healthy tissue surrounding tumors.
Radiation works by damaging the DNA of cancerous cells, effectively curbing their growth and promoting cell death. However, this process is not selective, leading to collateral damage in healthy cells, particularly in sensitive areas such as the throat and rectum. Cancer patients receiving treatment for head and neck cancers, for instance, often endure painful side effects, such as ulceration in the mouth and throat, while those undergoing prostate cancer treatment may suffer from rectal bleeding.
Dr. James Byrne, a radiation oncologist at the University of Iowa, highlights the urgent need to address these side effects, noting that they can prompt some patients to abandon treatment before achieving tumor control. Together with biomedical researcher Giovanni Traverso at MIT, Byrne began to explore strategies for radiation protection, which fortuitously led them to examine tardigrades.
Tardigrades, often referred to as “water bears,” have astonished scientists with their resilience, able to withstand extreme environments, including the vacuum of space. These remarkable creatures can endure radiation doses estimated to be nearly 1,000 times greater than what would be lethal for humans.
The crux of tardigrade resilience lies in a unique protein known as Dsup, which has the capability to bind to their DNA, thus providing protection against radiation-induced damage. Recognizing the potential of Dsup, Byrne and Traverso collaborated with researchers to develop a method to deliver this protein’s instructions to mice. They utilized lipid nanoparticles—tiny lipid molecules designed to carry mRNA—specifically targeting cheek and rectal cells in the mice.
The results were promising: mice that expressed the Dsup protein exhibited fewer signs of DNA damage following exposure to radiation compared to those that did not produce the protein. “This work emphasizes the importance of fundamental research, particularly on organisms like tardigrades, which can inform clinical advances in human health,” states Zachary Morris, an oncologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was not involved in the study.
The next steps for the research team involve assessing the safety of this innovative treatment method before advancing to human trials. The researchers aim to ensure that the introduction of tardigrade mRNA does not trigger adverse immune responses. They are also investigating alternative delivery systems, including hydrogels, that could provide a more suitable approach for clinical application in patients, as opposed to direct injections.
By harnessing the naturally evolved mechanisms of tardigrades, researchers aspire to significantly improve patient care for those undergoing radiation therapy in the future. “Our goal is to take advantage of what nature has perfected to develop optimized radiation protection that can ultimately benefit patient care,” Byrne concludes.
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