Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell responses to low radiation doses–implications for leukemia risk

Studies of the responses of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to low doses of ionizing radiation formed an important aspect of the RISK-IR project (www.risk-ir.eu). A brief overview of these studies is presented here. The findings confirm the sensitivity of HSPCs to radiation even at low doses, and illustrate the substantial impact that differentiation state has upon cell sensitivity. The work provides mechanistic support for epidemiological findings of leukemia risk at dose levels used in diagnostic CT imaging, and further suggests that low-dose irradiation may facilitate bone marrow transplantation, a finding that could lead to refinements in clinical practice.