Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40291513›Full record

ArticleAdvances in radiation oncology2025

Targeting Active Microglia Alleviates Distal Edge of Proton Radiation-induced Neural Damage.

Keman Liao, Dan Ou, Mei Chen, Fei Xu, Jianyi Zhao, Li Zhou, Ran Wu, Yingying Lin, Yibin Zhang, Lu Cao and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Advances in radiation oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Keman LiaoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Dan OuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Mei ChenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Fei XuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jianyi ZhaoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Li ZhouDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Ran WuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yingying LinDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yibin ZhangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Lu CaoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jiayi ChenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Proton therapy (PT) has distinct advantages in its ability to precisely target tumors while avoiding adjacent normal tissues. However, the distal edge effects of PT constrain its application. This study investigated the brain tissue response in the distal edge regions of protons and compared it with the effect of photons. Methods and Materials: The occurrence of damage from photons and at the distal edge of protons was investigated in a murine model. Bragg peak treatment plans for murine models were optimized. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence staining were performed along the distal margin. In addition, the approximate distance from the Bragg peak to the neuronal damage sites was calculated. Furthermore, a small-molecule inhibitor was studied for its ability to inhibit microglia activation. Results: The distal edge brain injury murine model was successfully established. Reactive gliosis and granulovacuolar neuronal degeneration were observed in the right hemisphere of the brain in the proton irradiation group. Neuronal injuries were observed at multiple locations (the frontal lobe, thalamus, and cerebral cortex) along the distal border, but no injured neurons were detected along vertical photon irradiation exposed areas. Meanwhile, severe neural damage was seen with horizontal photon irradiation. At the distal edge of the Bragg peak (0.4633 ± 0.01856 cm), microglia with abnormal morphology accumulated. IBA1 and CD68 staining revealed activated microglia at the corresponding neuronal damage sites, indicating their involvement in irradiation-induced damage. Activated microglia were not observed with vertical photon irradiation, whereas many activated microglia were observed with horizontal photon irradiation. Moreover, asparagine endopeptidase inhibitors administered via intraperitoneal injection significantly reduced active microglia in the thalamus and cerebral cortex and alleviated brain damage. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that proton radiation induces neuronal damage and accumulation of activated microglia at the distal edge. Targeting activated microglia may play a protective role in distal edge injury from radiation.

Identifiers

PMID40291513
PMCPMC12023787

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