Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models

The recent acknowledgement of depleted uranium (DU) munitions utilization in the Ukrainian conflict has sparked renewed apprehensions regarding the safety of DU, its toxicological profile, and the health ramifications of exposure. Historical data from conflicts like the Gulf War, Bosnia, and Kosovo...

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Main Authors: Stefano Burgio, Valerio Gennaro, Olga Maria Manna, Domiziana Picone, Adelaide Carista, Francesco Cappello
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Biological Research
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Online Access:https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/12663
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author Stefano Burgio
Valerio Gennaro
Olga Maria Manna
Domiziana Picone
Adelaide Carista
Francesco Cappello
author_facet Stefano Burgio
Valerio Gennaro
Olga Maria Manna
Domiziana Picone
Adelaide Carista
Francesco Cappello
author_sort Stefano Burgio
collection DOAJ
description The recent acknowledgement of depleted uranium (DU) munitions utilization in the Ukrainian conflict has sparked renewed apprehensions regarding the safety of DU, its toxicological profile, and the health ramifications of exposure. Historical data from conflicts like the Gulf War, Bosnia, and Kosovo have recorded an upsurge in neoplastic ailments among soldiers in close proximity to DU deployment. Nevertheless, establishing a direct causal connection between DU exposure and the development of neoplastic diseases remains elusive, as indicated by meta-analyses and studies on animal models. We posit that the absence of a conclusive causal correlation between DU exposure and neoplastic diseases may be ascribed to the constraints of current study models, which fail to encapsulate the intricate interactions between DU and the human immune system, pathophysiology, particularly in the context of chronic, low-level exposure. Nowadays evidences suggests that DU exposure contributes to a cumulative immunotoxic effect, culminating in a compromised immune surveillance system and an escalated risk of neoplastic diseases over time. To investigate this hypothesis, we advocate for the advancement of pioneering research models, such as human ex-vivo body-on-a-chip systems, which can more accurately replicate the human physiological response to DU exposure and cancer pathophysiology. These models should encompass the examination of immune system modifications along with the potential for DU to interact with diverse organs and tissues, thereby furnishing a more comprehensive understanding of the enduring health impacts of DU.
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spelling doaj-art-9924c44d454d4980bd51d22b528744412024-12-04T08:16:47ZengPAGEPress PublicationsJournal of Biological Research1826-88382284-02302024-12-0110.4081/jbr.2024.12663Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental modelsStefano Burgio0Valerio Gennaro1Olga Maria Manna2Domiziana Picone3Adelaide Carista4Francesco Cappello5Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), PalermoPoliclinico San Martino Hospital IRCCS, Genoa (retired), Italy; JHU Alumni, Johns Hopkins University, BaltimoraDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostic (BiND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, PalermoDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostic (BiND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, PalermoDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostic (BiND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, PalermoEuro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), Palermo, Italy; Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostic (BiND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, Palermo The recent acknowledgement of depleted uranium (DU) munitions utilization in the Ukrainian conflict has sparked renewed apprehensions regarding the safety of DU, its toxicological profile, and the health ramifications of exposure. Historical data from conflicts like the Gulf War, Bosnia, and Kosovo have recorded an upsurge in neoplastic ailments among soldiers in close proximity to DU deployment. Nevertheless, establishing a direct causal connection between DU exposure and the development of neoplastic diseases remains elusive, as indicated by meta-analyses and studies on animal models. We posit that the absence of a conclusive causal correlation between DU exposure and neoplastic diseases may be ascribed to the constraints of current study models, which fail to encapsulate the intricate interactions between DU and the human immune system, pathophysiology, particularly in the context of chronic, low-level exposure. Nowadays evidences suggests that DU exposure contributes to a cumulative immunotoxic effect, culminating in a compromised immune surveillance system and an escalated risk of neoplastic diseases over time. To investigate this hypothesis, we advocate for the advancement of pioneering research models, such as human ex-vivo body-on-a-chip systems, which can more accurately replicate the human physiological response to DU exposure and cancer pathophysiology. These models should encompass the examination of immune system modifications along with the potential for DU to interact with diverse organs and tissues, thereby furnishing a more comprehensive understanding of the enduring health impacts of DU. https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/12663Depleted uraniumcarcinogenesispublic healthpathophysiology
spellingShingle Stefano Burgio
Valerio Gennaro
Olga Maria Manna
Domiziana Picone
Adelaide Carista
Francesco Cappello
Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
Journal of Biological Research
Depleted uranium
carcinogenesis
public health
pathophysiology
title Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
title_full Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
title_fullStr Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
title_full_unstemmed Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
title_short Implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
title_sort implication of depleted uranium in human carcinogenesis with a glance to implementation of novel and reliable experimental models
topic Depleted uranium
carcinogenesis
public health
pathophysiology
url https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/12663
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