CHAPTER 26: Ionising Radiation Exposure Biodosimetry Using the Lymphocyte Cytokinesis-block Micronucleus Cytome Assay
-
Published:18 Jul 2019
-
Special Collection: 2019 ebook collectionSeries: Issues in Toxicology
M. Fenech, in The Micronucleus Assay in Toxicology, ed. S. Knasmüller and M. Fenech, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2019, pp. 417-434.
Download citation file:
The cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMNcyt) assay is one of the best validated methods for measuring structural and numerical chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes. This paper describes the methodology, biology and mechanisms underlying the application of this technique for biodosimetry following exposure to ionising radiation. Apart from the measurement of micronuclei (MN) it is also possible to score other biomarkers within the CBMNcyt assay that are relevant to radiation biodosimetry. These include nucleoplasmic bridges (NPB), which are an important additional measure of radiation-induced damage that originate from dicentric chromosomes, the proportion of dividing cells and cells undergoing cell death. A brief account is also given of the outcomes of recent inter-laboratory comparison studies and current developments in the automation of this technique. Furthermore, important knowledge gaps that need attention to further enhance the applicability of this important method for radiation biodosimetry are discussed.