Synergistic effects of ionizing radiation and 60 Hz magnetic fields

Experiments designed to evaluate the synergistic production of clastogenic effects by ionizing radiation and 60 Hz magnetic fields were performed using human lymphocytes from peripheral blood. Following exposure to ionizing radiation, cells were cultured in 60 Hz magnetic fields having field strengths up to 1.4 mT. Cells exposed to both ionizing radiation and 60 Hz magnetic fields demonstrated an enhanced frequency of near tetraploid chromosome complements, a feature not observed following exposure to only ionizing radiation. The results are discussed in the context of a multiple-stage model of cellular transformation, employing both initiating and promoting agents. © 1993 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

The effect of He-Ne laser radiation on the survival of HeLa cells subjected to ionizing radiation]

A monolayer of HeLa cells, at the stationary phase of growth, exposed to He-Ne laser radiation (632.8 nm; 100 J/m2) either 5 min or 60 min prior to gamma irradiation (0.1-10 Gy; 6.75 Gy/min), or 5 min after irradiation has been investigated. With a 5-min interval between irradiation sessions (both sequences) the survival curves are virtually the same as those for gamma-irradiated cells only. With He-Ne laser radiation delivered 60 min before gamma irradiation with doses exceeding 5 Gy, a fraction of radioresistant cells is identified whose D0 is almost twice as high as D0 of basic cell mass (3.6 and 1.7 Gy respectively. The survival curve becomes a two-component one. A hypothesis is proposed that He-Ne laser radiation activates, in some cells, the processes that promote the repair of radiation damages.     

X-ray and UV-radiation sensitivity of circulating lymphocytes in multiple epidermal cancer in relation to previous radiation exposure

The cellular sensitivity to X rays (200 kV, 16 mA) and UV radiation (254 nm) was examined in lymphocytes from three groups of patients with multiple epidermal malignant tumors, selected by their clinical history of carcinogenesis. Eight patients previously exposed to low energy ionizing radiation (less than or equal to 12 kV) had an increased cellular sensitivity to UV radiation as well as X rays compared with 24 age and sex matched controls. This indicates the existence of a cellular cross-sensitivity to UV radiation and ionizing radiation not previously established for human cells. In contrast six patients previously exposed to high energy ionizing radiation (between 25 and 170 kV) had normal cellular response to both UV radiation and X rays, indicating a different biologic effect of low and high energy ionizing radiation. In the third group of patients, previously exposed to therapeutic UV radiation/excess sunlight, the lymphocytes had a normal response to X rays, but an increased sensitivity to UV radiation. The possibility of evaluating the individual risk at radiation exposure is suggested.     

Radioadaptation in Indian muntjac fibroblast cells induced by low intensity laser irradiation.

Earlier reports have indicated that an adaptive, protective response to ionizing radiation is inducible by pre-treatment with low intensity laser irradiation (LILI). We have investigated the potential of LILI to induce an adaptive response against the damaging effects of ionizing radiation in Indian muntjac fibroblasts. LILI at 660, but not 820 nm, at 11.5 and 23.0 J/cm2, induced an apparent adaptive response in the form of a reduction in the frequency of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations, but not in cell survival. There was also a trend towards a reduction in the level of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA breaks induced by ionizing radiation when cells were preconditioned with LILI. However, this did not contribute to the reduced chromosome aberration frequency. Further analysis revealed that the reduced aberration frequency was caused by a laser-induced extension of G2 delay. The adaptive response was therefore the result of cell cycle modulation by LILI, at a wavelength where there is no known DNA damaging effect to induce the checkpoint mechanisms that are normally responsible for altering cell cycle progression.     

Modeling hematopoietic system response caused by chronic exposure to ionizing radiation

A new model of the hematopoietic system response in humans chronically exposed to ionizing radiation describes the dynamics of the hematopoietic stem cell compartment as well as the dynamics of each of the four blood cell types (lymphocytes, neutrophiles, erythrocytes, and platelets). The required model parameters were estimated based on available results of human and experimental animal studies. They include the steady-state number of hematopoietic stem cells and peripheral blood cell lines in an unexposed organism, amplification parameters for each blood line, parameters describing proliferation and apoptosis, parameters of feedback functions regulating the steady-state numbers, and characteristics of radiosensitivity related to cell death and non-lethal cell damage. The model predictions were tested using data on hematological measurements (e.g., blood counts) performed in 1950–1956 in the Techa River residents chronically exposed to ionizing radiation since 1949. The suggested model of hematopoiesis is capable of describing experimental findings in the Techa River Cohort, including: (1) slopes of the dose–effect curves reflecting the inhibition of hematopoiesis due to chronic ionizing radiation, (2) delay in effect of chronic exposure and accumulated character of the effect, and (3) dose-rate patterns for different cytopenic states (e.g., leukopenia, thrombocytopenia).     

A manganese porphyrin complex is a novel radiation protector

Exposure of cells to ionizing radiation leads to formation of reactive oxygen species, which are associated with radiation-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, compounds that scavenge reactive oxygen species may confer radioprotective effects. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics have been shown to be protective against cell injury caused by reactive oxygen species. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of manganese(III) tetrakis(N-methyl-2-pyridyl)porphyrin (MnTMPyP), a cell-permeable SOD mimetic, on radiation-dependent toxicity. We investigated the protective role of MnTMPyP against ionizing radiation in U937 cells and mice. On exposure to ionizing radiation, there was a distinct difference between control cells and cells pretreated with MnTMPyP with respect to viability, cellular redox status, and oxidative damage to cells. Lipid peroxidation, oxidative DNA damage, and protein oxidation were significantly lower in the cells treated with MnTMPyP when the cells were exposed to ionizing radiation. The [GSSG]/[GSH + GSSG] ratio and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species were higher and the [NADPH]/[NADP+ + NADPH] ratio was lower in control cells compared with MnTMPyP-treated cells. Ionizing radiation-induced mitochondrial damage, as reflected by the altered mitochondrial permeability transition, increase in accumulation of reactive oxygen species, reduction of ATP production, and morphological change, was significantly higher in control cells than in MnTMPyP-treated cells. MnTMPyP administration for 14 days at a daily dosage of 5 mg/kg provided substantial protection against killing and oxidative damage in mice exposed to whole-body irradiation. These data indicate that MnTMPyP may have great application potential as a new class of in vivo, non-sulfur-containing radiation protectors.     

JNK/p53 mediated cell death response in K562 exposed to etoposide-ionizing radiation combined treatment

The study of the ability of chemotherapeutic agents and/or ionizing radiation (IR) to induce cell death in tumor cells is essential for setting up new and more efficient therapies against human cancer. Since drug and ionizing radiation resistance is an impediment to successful chemotherapy against cancer, we wanted to check if etoposide/ionizing radiation combined treatment could have a synergic effect to improve cell death in K562, a well-known human erythroleukemia ionizing radiation resistant cell line. In this study, we examined the role played by JNK/SAPK, p53, and mitochondrial pathways in cell death response of K562 cells to etoposide and IR treatment. Our results let us suppose that the induction of cell death, already evident in 15 Gy exposed cells, mainly in 15 Gy plus etoposide, may be mediated by JNK/SAPK pathway. Moreover, p53 is a potential substrate for JNK and may act as a JNK target for etoposide and ionizing radiation. Thus further investigation on these and other molecular mechanisms underlying the cell death response following etoposide and ionizing radiation exposure could be useful to overcome resistance mechanisms in tumor cells.     

Influence of low doses of ionizing radiation on tenascin expression in hybridoma cell systems

One of the achievements of the modern radiation ecology is the preparation and application of stable eukariotic cell lines to solve various problems occurring under exposure to ionizing radiation, especially to low doses. The detection of onco-fetal protein--tenascin in different embryonic and tumor cells of humans and animals supposes the probability of appropriate gene expression in lymphoid cells, including hybridomal cells. Using the immunochemical method, the study of tenascin expression in two mouse hybridomal lines was carried out. Tenascin was revealed in hybridomal lines MLC-1 and K-48. Further hybridomal cell lines were exposed to X-ray radiation (120 KV) with doses 2.10,15 cGy. The obtained results demonstrated the sensitivity of tenascin expression to low doses of ionizing radiation, that may be used as a convenient model of studying of genotoxic effects of various damaging ionizing agents on a cell level.     

Effects of ionizing radiation on mitochondria

The current concept of radiobiology posits that damage to the DNA in the cell nucleus is the primary cause for the detrimental effects of radiation. However, emerging experimental evidence suggests that this theoretical framework is insufficient for describing extranuclear radiation effects, particularly the response of the mitochondria, an important site of extranuclear, coding DNA. Here, we discuss experimental observations of the effects of ionizing radiation on the mitochondria at (1) the DNA and (2) functional levels. The roles of mitochondria in (3) oxidative stress and (4) late radiation effects are discussed. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of targets for ionizing radiation outside the cell nucleus. Available experimental data suggest that an increase in the tumoricidal efficacy of radiation therapy might be achievable by targeting mitochondria. Likewise, more specific protection of mitochondria and its coding DNA should reduce damage to healthy cells exposed to ionizing radiation.     

In vivo interactions between ionizing radiation, inflammation and chemical carcinogens identified by increased DNA damage responses

Exposure to ionizing radiation or a variety of chemical agents is known to increase the risk of developing malignancy and many tumors have been linked to inflammatory processes. In most studies, the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation or other agents are considered in isolation, mainly due to the large number of experiments required to assess the effects of mixed exposures with different doses and different schedules, and the length of time and expense of studies using disease as the measure of outcome. Here, we have used short-term DNA damage responses to identify interactive effects of mixed exposures. The data demonstrate that exposure to ionizing radiation on two separate occasions ten days apart leads to an increase in the percentage of cells with a sub-G(0) DNA content compared to cells exposed only once, and this is a greater than additive effect. Short-term measurements of p53 stabilization, induction of p21/Cdkn1a and of apoptosis also identify these interactive effects. We also demonstrate similar interactive effects of radiation with the mutagenic chemical methyl-nitrosourea and with a nonspecific pro-inflammatory agent, lipopolysaccharide. The magnitude of the interactive effects is greater in cells taken from mice first exposed as juveniles compared to adults. These data indicate that short-term measurements of DNA damage and response to damage are useful for the identification of interactions between ionizing radiation and other agents.     

Effects of ionizing radiation on cyclin expression in HeLa cells.

The levels of cyclin B mRNA and protein rise rapidly in G2 + M phase, and fall at the end of mitosis. The studies described here were initiated to determine the effects of ionizing radiation on the level of cyclin B bearing in mind that the division delay induced by ionizing radiation might be influenced by the expression of cyclin B. After irradiation in S phase, the cyclin B mRNA in HeLa cells was measured as the cells proceeded through the cell cycle. Instead of the usual rise, after irradiation cyclin B mRNA levels remained low during the G2 delay. After irradiation in G2 phase, cyclin B mRNA was readily detectable although at slightly lower levels than in the controls. However, cyclin B protein was markedly decreased in amount.     

Molecular level damages of low power pulsed laser radiation in a marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora

AIM: To study the molecular level damages in a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora, exposed to low power pulsed laser radiation from an Nd:YAG laser. METHODS AND RESULTS: The laser damages in bacterial DNA were monitored by studying the formation of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites. Molecular probe kits were used for this purpose. Occurrence of lesions in the cell walls was monitored under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that laser radiation significantly increased the number of AP sites in the bacterial DNA. This increase corresponded to the laser fluence (J cm(-2)) and to the duration of laser irradiation. TEM observation showed the occurrence of lesions in bacterial cell walls upon laser irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that bacteria exposed to laser irradiation suffers DNA damages and resulted in broken cell walls. These events led to bacterial mortality. These are in addition to the mechanisms reported earlier such as the photochemical reactions occurring inside the cells upon exposure to low power laser. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results help us to understand the mechanisms of bacterial mortality on exposure to low power pulsed laser irradiation and are useful in formulating a laser treatment strategy to kill bacteria.     

Role of induced genetic instability in the mutagenic effects of chemicals and radiation

Recent studies have demonstrated that cells exposed to ionizing radiation or alkylating agents can develop prolonged genetic instability. Induced genetic instability is manisested in multiple ways, including delayed reproductive death, an increased rate of point mutations, and an increased rate of chromosome rearrangements. In many respects these changes are similar to the genetic instability associated with cancer and some human genetic diseases. Therefore, as with cancer cells, multiple mechanisms may be involved, some occuring in the early stages and some in the later stages. The high percentage of cells that develop induced genetic instability after exposure to stress, and the prolonged period over which the instability occurs, indicates that the instability is not in response to residual damage in the DNA or mutations in specific genes. Instead, changes affecting most of the exposed cells, such as epigenetic alterations in gene expression or chain reactions of chromosome rearrangements, are a more likely explanation. Learning more about the mechanisms involved in this process is essential for understanding the consequences of exposure of cells to ionizing radiation or alkylating agents.     

Visible laser and UV-A radiation impact on a PNP degrading Moraxella strain and its rpoS mutant

The role of stationary phase sigma factor gene (rpoS) in the stress response of Moraxella strain when exposed to radiation was determined by comparing the stress responses of the wild-type (WT) and its rpoS knockout (KO) mutant. The rpoS was turned on by starving the WT cultures for 24 h in minimal salt medium. Under non-starved condition, both WT and KO planktonic Moraxella cells showed an increase in mortality with the increase in duration of irradiation. In the planktonic non-starved Moraxella, for the power intensity tested, UV radiation caused a substantially higher mortality rate than did by the visible laser light (the mortality rate observed for 15-min laser radiation was 53.4 +/- 10.5 and 48.7 +/- 8.9 for WT and KO, respectively, and 97.6 +/- 0 and 98.5 +/- 0 for 25 s of UV irradiation in WT and KO, respectively). However, the mortality rate decreased significantly in the starved WT when exposed to these two radiations. In comparison, rpoS protected the WT against the visible laser light more effectively than it did for the UV radiation. The WT and KO strains of Moraxella formed distinctly different types of biofilms on stainless steel coupons. The KO strain formed a denser biofilm than did the WT. Visible laser light removed biofilms from the surfaces more effectively than did the UV. This was true when comparing the mortality of bacteria in the biofilms as well. The inability of UV radiation to penetrate biofilms due to greater rates of surface absorption is considered to be the major reason for the weaker removal of biofilms in comparison to that of the visible laser light. This result suggests that high power visible laser light might be an effective tool for the removal of biofilms.     

Spectrum of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of hospital workers occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation

Chromosome aberrations frequency was estimated in peripheral lymphocytes from hospital workers occupationally exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation and controls. Chromosome aberrations yield was analyzed by considering the effects of dose equivalent of ionizing radiation over time, and of confounding factors, such as age, gender and smoking status. Frequencies of aberrant cells and chromosome breaks were higher in exposed workers than in controls (P = 0.007, and P = 0.001, respectively). Seven dicentric aberrations were detected in the exposed group and only three in controls, but the mean frequencies were not significantly different. The dose equivalent to whole body of ionizing radiation (Hwb) did appear to influence the spectrum of chromosomal aberrations when the exposed workers were subdivided by a cut off at 50 mSv. The frequencies of chromosome breaks in both subgroups of workers were significantly higher than in controls (< or =50 mSv, P = 0.041; >50 mSv, P = 0.018). On the other hand, the frequency of chromatid breaks observed in workers with Hwb >50 mSv was significantly higher than in controls (P = 0.015) or workers with Hwb < or =50 mSv (P = 0.046). Regarding the influence of confounding factors on genetic damage, smoking status and female gender seem to influence the increase in chromosome aberration frequencies in the study population. Overall, these results suggested that chromosome breaks might provide a good marker for assessing genetic damage in populations exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation.     

Karyotypic instability and centrosome aberrations in the progeny of finite life-span human mammary epithelial cells exposed to sparsely or densely ionizing radiation

The human breast is sensitive to radiation carcinogenesis, and genomic instability occurs early in breast cancer development. This study tests the hypothesis that ionizing radiation elicits genomic instability in finite life-span human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) and asks whether densely ionizing radiation is a more potent inducer of instability. HMEC in a non-proliferative state were exposed to X rays or 1 GeV/nucleon iron ions followed by delayed plating. Karyotypic instability and centrosome aberrations were monitored in expanded clonal isolates. Severe karyotypic instability was common in the progeny of cells that survived X-ray or iron-ion exposure. There was a lower dose threshold for severe karyotypic instability after iron-ion exposure. More than 90% of X-irradiated colonies and >60% of iron-ion-irradiated colonies showed supernumerary centrosomes at levels above the 95% upper confidence limit of the mean for unirradiated clones. A dose response was observed for centrosome aberrations for each radiation type. There was a statistically significant association between the incidence of karyotypic instability and supernumerary centrosomes for iron-ion-exposed colonies and a weaker association for X-irradiated colonies. Thus genomic instability occurs frequently in finite life-span HMEC exposed to sparsely or densely ionizing radiation and may contribute to radiation-induced breast cancer.     

Selenium as an adjuvant for modification of radiation response

Ionizing radiation plays a central role in several medical and industrial purposes. In spite of the beneficial effects of ionizing radiation, there are some concerns related to accidental exposure that could pose a threat to the lives of exposed people. This issue is also very critical for triage of injured people in a possible terror event or nuclear disaster. The most common side effects of ionizing radiation are experienced in cancer patients who had undergone radiotherapy. For complete eradication of tumors, there is a need for high doses of ionizing radiation. However, these high doses lead to severe toxicities in adjacent organs. Management of normal tissue toxicity may be achieved via modulation of radiation responses in both normal and malignant cells. It has been suggested that treatment of patients with some adjuvant agents may be useful for amelioration of radiation toxicity or sensitization of tumor cells. However, there are always some concerns for possible severe toxicities and protection of tumor cells, which in turn affect radiotherapy outcomes. Selenium is a trace element in the body that has shown potent antioxidant and radioprotective effects for many years. Selenium can potently stimulate antioxidant defense of cells, especially via upregulation of glutathione (GSH) level and glutathione peroxidase activity. Some studies in recent years have shown that selenium is able to mitigate radiation toxicity when administered after exposure. These studies suggest that selenium may be a useful radiomitigator for an accidental radiation event. Molecular and cellular studies have revealed that selenium protects different normal cells against radiation, while it may sensitize tumor cells. These differential effects of selenium have also been revealed in some clinical studies. In the present study, we aimed to review the radiomitigative and radioprotective effects of selenium on normal cells/tissues, as well as its radiosensitive effect on cancer cells.     

Sensitivity of germ cells and embryos to ionizing radiation

Experiments performed in laboratory animals suggest that ionizing radiation can induce DNA damage in the germ cells of exposed individuals and lead to various deleterious effects in their progeny, including miscarriage, low birth weight, congenital abnormalities and perhaps cancer. However, no clear evidence for such effects has been found in epidemiological studies of people exposed to radiation. The predicted risks of hereditary effects of any kinds resulting from parental exposure to relatively low doses of ionizing radiation remain very low, compared to the spontaneous risks in the absence of irradiation. Irradiation of the mouse embryo can lead to various effects (lethality, growth retardation, congenital abnormalities), depending on the period of gestation at which irradiation occurs. In humans, prenatal irradiation has only been exceptionally associated with congenital abnormalities, but irradiation between weeks 8-25 has been shown to be able to induce severe mental retardation. Although being not proven, the risk of developing a childhood cancer following prenatal irradiation may also not be excluded. Like for genetic effects, the risk of adverse effects following exposure of the embryo to relatively low doses remains quite low compared to the natural risks.     

Long-term cytogenetic effects in children prenatally-exposed to radiation as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station

Forty-two children exposed to ionizing radiation in prenatal period and 15 children of control group were examined in the remote terms after the accident using the method of differential G-staining of chromosomes in lymphocytes of peripheral blood. It was found that the average group rate of aberrant cells and chromosome aberrations was reliably higher in the children exposed in utero compared to control. Long-term cytogenetic consequences of the pre-natal exposure were characterized by prevalence of aberrations of a chromosome type, mainly stable chromosome lesions. At chronic exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation the increase in the rate both stable and unstable chromosome aberrations.