Clinical Radiobiology
Our group focuses on the association between microRNAs (miRNAs) and radiosensitivity.
MiRNAs are a new class of small non-coding RNAs, which are important in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Their actions include repression of protein synthesis and induction of targeted mRNA degradation typically by imperfect miRNA:mRNA base pairing. They are involved in various cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation and stress response. Our research goals comprise the detection of miRNAs responding to ionizing radiation in different cellular systems and the assignment of these miRNAs to distinct cellular functions including the identification of target proteins.
Moreover, we focus on the application of microRNAs as modifiers of radiosensitivity through their specific inhibition or overexpression.
- immuno-staining and fluorescence microskopy of different radiation responses
We are using these strategies to permit the usage of miRNAs as diagnostic markers and therapeutic markers for the improvement of tumor radiotherapy. For example we test the capability of miRNA expression profiles as predictors for tumor radiation sensitivity.
Furthermore we are using miRNAs as potential markers for the early detection of adverse radiation responses during radiotherapy.
Important methods in our group are miRNA quantification based on real-time PCR technology, immunostaining and fluorescence microscopy, lentiviral transduction for permanent miRNA overexpression, as well as flow cytometric methods for apoptosis and cell cycle analysis.