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World J Radiol. May 28, 2026; 18(5): 119372
Published online May 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i5.119372
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, 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
Revised: March 10, 2026
Accepted: April 8, 2026
Published online: May 28, 2026
Processing time: 121 Days and 17.6 Hours
Core Tip
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.