Goto H, Takano M, Takheaw N. Molecular basis of radiation resistance in tardigrades and the medical implications. World J Radiol 2026; 18(5): 119372 [DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i5.119372]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hiroki Goto, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Radioisotope and Tumor Pathobiology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-Ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. hgoto20@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
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Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
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Minireviews
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Goto H, Takano M, Takheaw N. Molecular basis of radiation resistance in tardigrades and the medical implications. World J Radiol 2026; 18(5): 119372 [DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i5.119372]
World J Radiol. May 28, 2026; 18(5): 119372 Published online May 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i5.119372
Molecular basis of radiation resistance in tardigrades and the medical implications
Hiroki Goto, Mariko Takano, Nuchjira Takheaw
Hiroki Goto, Mariko Takano, Division of Radioisotope and Tumor Pathobiology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
Nuchjira Takheaw, Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Author contributions: Goto H performed the majority of the writing and prepared the figures and tables; Takano M and Takheaw N contributed to manuscript drafting and provided critical input during the writing process; and all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
AI contribution statement: ChatGPT was used in a limited manner during the early stage of manuscript preparation for preliminary English language refinement of a portion of the text. The scientific content and manuscript text were prepared by the authors. ChatGPT was not used to generate the manuscript in whole or in part as final submitted text. ChatGPT was used only for preliminary English language polishing of limited text. In addition, the manuscript subsequently underwent two rounds of professional human English editing. Study design, data analysis, interpretation of results, and scientific conclusions were conducted entirely by the authors. No AI-generated images were used in the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Corresponding author: Hiroki Goto, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Radioisotope and Tumor Pathobiology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-Ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. hgoto20@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Received: January 26, 2026 Revised: March 10, 2026 Accepted: April 8, 2026 Published online: May 28, 2026 Processing time: 121 Days and 17.6 Hours
Abstract
Tardigrades exhibit remarkable resistance to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation, tolerating exposures far beyond the lethal limits for most organisms. Among the tardigrade-derived molecules implicated in this resilience, damage suppressor (Dsup) is the most well-characterized and demonstrates clear radioprotective activity. This mini-review summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying tardigrade radiation resistance and discusses their potential medical applications. Dsup associates with chromatin, reducing hydroxyl-radical-induced DNA strand breaks and limiting ultraviolet-mediated pyrimidine dimer formation. Human cells expressing Dsup exhibit decreased DNA damage by approximately 40% and enhanced survival following irradiation, indicating that essential protective mechanisms of tardigrades can be functional in mammalian systems. These findings support the exploration of Dsup-based strategies to mitigate radiation-induced cellular injury, improve preservation of biological materials, and enhance resilience in high-radiation environments such as radiotherapy or space missions. Further mechanistic studies of Dsup, DNA repair pathways, and antioxidative systems, along with in vivo evaluations, are essential to fully elucidate the molecular basis of tardigrade radiation resistance. Collectively, these mechanisms provide valuable insights that may guide the development of novel approaches for medical radioprotection.
Core Tip: Tardigrades exhibit extraordinary resistance to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation. Among the tardigrade-derived molecules linked to this resilience, damage suppressor binds to chromatin and mitigates both hydroxyl-radical-induced DNA breaks and ultraviolet-induced pyrimidine dimers. Recent studies have demonstrated that damage suppressor expression in mammalian cells reduces γ-H2AX foci by approximately 40% and prolongs cellular survival after irradiation. In this minireview, we highlight recent advances in understanding tardigrade radiation resistance and explore potential clinical applications for managing radiation-induced cellular injury.
