Ionizing Radiation and Inflammatory Reactions: Formation Mechanisms and Implications.

Ionizing radiation induces a complex of genetic, biochemical, structural, and functional changes in the body. The development of an inflammatory response is acknowledged as one of the manifestations of systemic bodily response to ionizing radiation exposure, and this response, through the activation of immunity, both acts as protector and leads to the development of undesirable early, delayed, and off-target effects. Its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are defined by DNA damage, free radical metabolic changes (primarily reactive oxygen and nitrogen species), development of oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, release of "danger signals" and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The role of non-apoptotic cell death forms (ferroptosis and pyroptosis) is described in the genesis of the post-radiation inflammatory response and subsequent tissue, organ, and system damage. The ability of the post-radiation inflammatory reaction to take form of a time-stable self-sustaining process that increases the radiation-induced damage severity due to the presence of a positive feedback between different components of its pathogenesis is noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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