Research progress in ionizing radiation damage using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model

Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans for short) has been widely used in researches on ionizing radiation as a classic model organism. Similar to vertebrates, the injury induced by radiation mainly include DNA damage, increase of reactive oxygen species level, accelerated aging, and the injury in reproductive system. As a model of ionizing radiation, C.elegans have made many breakthroughs in the field of radiation damage. The accelerated aging induced by ionizing radiation is controlled by multiple factors, like the incorrect expression of proteins and altered lipid metabolism. Ionizing radiation induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and DNA damage in germ cells. C.elegans, as a well-established model of ionizing radiation, has significant implications for the study of radiation effects in higher organisms. The research progress in ionizing radiation damage using C.elegans as a model is reviewed in this paper.