Mouse model study of clonal hematopoiesis following radiation exposure

Clonal hematopoiesis, associated with radiation exposure and increased risks of inflammatory diseases, has not been evaluated in animal model studies. To evaluate the extent to which clonal hematopoiesis following radiation exposure leads to the accumulation of pro-inflammatory monocytes in the periphery, this project will establish one or more mouse models that can test the hypothesis that clonal hematopoiesis in irradiated mice is involved in pro-inflammatory phenotypes that promote atherosclerosis formation. Elemental experimental procedures in this project include identification of clonal hematopoiesis with somatic mutations by performing whole-exome sequencing using bone marrow (BM) cells. The prevalence of clonal hematopoiesis and related hematologic indicators will be compared in (C57BL/6 x C3H/HeJ) F1 mice following 3-Gy or 0-Gy irradiation.