Radiation Oncology/Radiobiology/Radiobiology and lung

RADIATION INJURY IN LUNG:

  • Pneumocytes type II —> main target of radiation
    • Earliest response to radiation
      • ==> decrease in lamellar bodies
      • ==> increase in alveolar surfactant
    • By 18–63 weeks
      • Degeneration & sloughing into alveolar spaces
  • Inflammatory cytokines
    • IL-1α/β
    • TGF-β
    • PDGF
    • Collagen and fibronectin genes