# The Role of Ionizing Radiation in Alzheimer’s Disease

> **NIH NIH U01** · FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH · 2021 · $418,750

## Abstract

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this Administrative Supplement project is to determine whether
extracellular cold inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP), a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP)
molecule, is released by microglial cells upon radiation exposure and leads to tau pathology in Alzheimer’s
disease (AD). AD is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and the most common form of neurodegenerative
dementia. Although studies have linked ionizing radiation exposure to cognitive dysfunction, the role of
radiation injury in the etiology of AD has not been sufficiently explored. eCIRP is known to be released by
irradiated cells and activated macrophages, and our preliminary studies have shown that serum levels of
eCIRP are elevated after total body irradiation (TBI), raising the possibility that TBI may cause microglial cells
to release eCIRP in the central nervous system. Indeed, we discovered that eCIRP was increased in the
cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients. Moreover, eCIRP increased tau phosphorylation and upregulated the Cdk5
hyperactivator p25 via eCIRP’s activation of the interleukin-6 receptor α (IL-6Rα)/STAT3 pathway. We also
showed that the eCIRP competitive antagonist small peptide C23 inhibited eCIRP’s activation of IL-6Rα/STAT3
and upregulation of p25. Based on these novel findings, we hypothesize that ionizing radiation induces
microglial cells to release eCIRP in the brain, leading to pathological tau phosphorylation and aggregation.
Moreover, we further hypothesize that treatment with C23 attenuates the development of radiation-induced tau
pathology. In this project, we plan to determine the effects of irradiation and the contribution of microglial cells
to brain eCIRP release. We will then demonstrate the role of eCIRP in the induction of AD-like pathological tau
phosphorylation and aggregation after irradiation. Finally, we will conduct a proof-of-concept study to evaluate
whether eCIRP antagonism with C23 attenuates pathological tau phosphorylation and aggregation after TBI.
Our studies will provide novel pivotal insights into the precise role of ionizing radiation in the pathogenesis of
AD, as well as new potential therapeutic strategies for treating AD patients in the future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10288222
- **Project number:** 3U01AI133655-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Max Brenner
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $418,750
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-06-07 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10288222

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10288222, The Role of Ionizing Radiation in Alzheimer’s Disease (3U01AI133655-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10288222. Licensed CC0.

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