Induction of a cytogenetic adaptive response by exposure of rabbits to very low dose-rate gamma-radiation

The radiation adaptive response and priming dose influence: the quantification of the Raper-Yonezawa effect and its three-parameter model for postradiation DNA lesions and mutations

The priming dose effect, called also the Raper-Yonezawa effect or simply the Yonezawa effect, is a special case of the radiation adaptive response phenomenon (radioadaptation), which refers to: (a) faster repair of direct DNA lesions (damage), and (b) DNA mutation frequency reduction after irradiation, by applying a small priming (conditioning) dose prior to the high detrimental (challenging) one. This effect is observed in many (but not all) radiobiological experiments which present the reduction of lesion, mutation or even mortality frequency of the irradiated cells or species. Additionally, the multi-parameter model created by Dr. Yonezawa and collaborators tried to explain it theoretically based on experimental data on the mortality of mice with chronic internal irradiation. The presented paper proposes a new theoretical approach to understanding and explaining the priming dose effect: it starts from the radiation adaptive response theory and moves to the three-parameter model, separately for two previously mentioned situations: creation of fast (lesions) and delayed damage (mutations). The proposed biophysical model was applied to experimental data-lesions in human lymphocytes and chromosomal inversions in mice-and was shown to be able to predict the Yonezawa effect for future investigations. It was also found that the strongest radioadaptation is correlated with the weakest cellular radiosensitivity. Additional discussions were focussed on more general situations where many small priming doses are used.

Radon Therapy Is Very Promising as a Primary or an Adjuvant Treatment for Different Types of Cancers: 4 Case Reports

We report on the application of radon inhalation therapy to patients with 4 types of cancer: colon, uterine, lung, and liver cell. The radon treatments were given to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy and were potent in all 4 cases. Marker values decreased and disease symptoms were alleviated. We include a lengthy discussion on the mechanism that may be responsible for the observed results. While employing the radon generator to treat the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, we discovered that a concentration of 6 MBq/m3 was very effective, while 1 MBq/m3 was marginal. This implies different, and rather high, radon concentration thresholds for the treatment of different types of cancer. The evidence from these 4 cases suggests that radon inhalation may be beneficial against various cancer types as an important adjuvant therapy to conventional chemotherapy and for local high-dose radiotherapy, which would address the problem of distant metastasis. A previous case report on 2 patients with advanced breast cancer, who refused chemotherapy or radiotherapy, indicates that radon may be effective as a primary therapy for cancer. Clinical trials should be carried out to determine the best radon concentrations for treatment of other types of cancer, at different stages of progression.

The LNT model for cancer induction is not supported by radiobiological data

The hallmarks of cancer have been the focus of much research and have influenced the development of risk models for radiation-induced cancer. However, natural defenses against cancer, which constitute the hallmarks of cancer prevention, have largely been neglected in developing cancer risk models. These natural defenses are enhanced by low doses and dose rates of ionizing radiation, which has aided in the continuation of human life over many generations. Our natural defenses operate at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and whole-body levels and include epigenetically regulated (epiregulated) DNA damage repair and antioxidant production, selective p53-independent apoptosis of aberrant cells (e.g. neoplastically transformed and tumor cells), suppression of cancer-promoting inflammation, and anticancer immunity (both innate and adaptive components). This publication reviews the scientific bases for the indicated cancer-preventing natural defenses and evaluates their implication for assessing cancer risk after exposure to low radiation doses and dose rates. Based on the extensive radiobiological evidence reviewed, it is concluded that the linear-no-threshold (LNT) model (which ignores natural defenses against cancer), as it relates to cancer risk from ionizing radiation, is highly implausible. Plausible models include dose-threshold and hormetic models. More research is needed to establish when a given model (threshold, hormetic, or other) applies to a given low-dose-radiation exposure scenario.

Radio-adaptive response of base excision repair genes and proteins in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to gamma radiation

Radio-adaptive response is a mechanism whereby a low-dose exposure (priming dose) induces resistance to a higher dose (challenging dose) thus significantly reducing its detrimental effects. Radiation-induced DNA damage gets repaired through various DNA repair pathways in human cells depending upon the type of lesion. The base excision repair (BER) pathway repairs radiation-induced base damage, abasic sites and single-strand breaks in cellular DNA. In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the involvement of BER genes and proteins in the radio-adaptive response in human resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Venous blood samples were collected from 20 randomly selected healthy male individuals with written informed consent. PBMC were isolated and irradiated at a priming dose of 0.1 Gy followed 4h later with a challenging dose of 2.0 Gy (primed cells). Quantitation of DNA damage was done using the alkaline comet assay immediately and expression profile of BER genes and proteins were studied 30 min after the challenging dose using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. The overall result showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction of DNA damage in terms of percentage of DNA in tail (%T) with a priming dose of 0.1 Gy followed by a challenging dose of 2.0 Gy after 4 h. Twelve individuals showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in %T whereas eight individuals showed marginal reduction in DNA damage that was not statistically significant. However, at the transcriptional level, BER genes such as APE1, FEN1 and LIGASE1 showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) up-regulation in both groups. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) up-regulation was also observed at the protein level for OGG1, APE1, MBD4, FEN1 and LIGASE1 in primed cells. Up-regulation of some BER genes and proteins such as APE1, FEN1 and LIGASE1 in primed cells of resting PBMC is suggestive of active involvement of the BER pathway in radio-adaptive response.

In vivo radioadaptive response: a review of studies relevant to radiation-induced cancer risk

Radioadaptive response (RAR) describes phenomena where small conditioning doses of ionizing radiation (IR) reduce detrimental effects of subsequent higher IR doses. Current radiation protection regulations do not include RAR because of the large variability in expression among individuals and uncertainties of the mechanism. However, RAR should be regarded as an indispensable factor for estimation and control of individual IR sensitivity. In this article, RAR studies relevant to individual cancer risk are reviewed. Using various stains of mice, carcinogenic RAR has been demonstrated. Consistently much in vivo evidence for RAR with end points of DNA and chromosome damage is reported. Most in vivo RAR studies revealed efficient induction of RAR by chronic or repeated low-dose priming irradiation. Chronic IR-induced RAR was observed also in human individuals after environmental, occupational, and nuclear accident radiation exposure. These observations may be associated with an intrinsically distinct feature of in vivo experimental systems that mainly consist of nonproliferating mature cells. Alternatively, induction of RAR by gap junction-mediated bystander effects suggests that multicellular systems comprising densely communicating cells may be capable of responding to long-lasting low-dose-rate priming irradiation. Regulation by endocrine factors is also a plausible mechanism for RAR at an individual level. Emerging evidence suggests that glucocorticoids, known as stress hormones, participate in in vivo RAR induction following long-term low-dose-rate exposure to IR.

MnSOD in oxidative stress response-potential regulation via mitochondrial protein influx

SIGNIFICANCE

The mitochondrial antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is encoded by genomic DNA and its dismutase function is fully activated in the mitochondria to detoxify free radical O2(•-) generated by mitochondrial respiration. Accumulating evidence shows an extensive communication between the mitochondria and cytoplasm under oxidative stress. Not only is the MnSOD gene upregulated by oxidative stress, but MnSOD activity can be enhanced via the mitochondrial protein influx (MPI).

RECENT ADVANCES

A cluster of MPI containing cytoplasmic/nuclear proteins, such as cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, and p53 interact with and alter MnSOD activity. These proteins modulate MnSOD superoxide scavenging activity via post-translational modifications in the mitochondria. In addition to well-established pathways in gene expression, recent findings suggest that MnSOD enzymatic activity can also be enhanced by phosphorylation of specific motifs in mitochondria. This review attempts to discuss the pre- and post-translational regulation of MnSOD, and how these modifications alter MnSOD activity, which induces a cell adaptive response to oxidative stress.

CRITICAL ISSUES

MnSOD is biologically significant to aerobic cells. Its role in protecting the cells against the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species is evident. However, the exact network of MnSOD-associated cellular adaptive reaction to oxidative stress and its post-translational modifications, especially its enzymatic enhancement via phosphorylation, is not yet fully understood.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The broad discussion of the multiple aspects of MnSOD regulation, including gene expression, protein modifications, and enzymatic activity, will shed light onto the unknown mechanisms that govern the prosurvival networks involved in cellular and mitochondrial adaptive response to genotoxic environment.

Cell cycle regulators guide mitochondrial activity in radiation-induced adaptive response

SIGNIFICANCE

There are accruing concerns on potential genotoxic agents present in the environment including low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) that naturally exists on earth's surface and atmosphere and is frequently used in medical diagnosis and nuclear industry. Although its long-term health risk is being evaluated and remains controversial, LDIR is shown to induce temporary but significant adaptive responses in mammalian cells and animals. The mechanisms guiding the mitochondrial function in LDIR-induced adaptive response represent a unique communication between DNA damage and cellular metabolism. Elucidation of the LDIR-regulated mitochondrial activity may reveal new mechanisms adjusting cellular function to cope with hazardous environmental stress.

RECENT ADVANCES

Key cell cycle regulators, including Cyclin D1/CDK4 and Cyclin B1/cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) complexes, are actively involved in the regulation of mitochondrial functions via phosphorylation of their mitochondrial targets. Accumulating new evidence supports a concept that the Cyclin B1/CDK1 complex acts as a mediator in the cross talk between radiation-induced DNA damage and mitochondrial functions to coordinate cellular responses to low-level genotoxic stresses.

CRITICAL ISSUES

The LDIR-mediated mitochondrial activity via Cyclin B1/CDK1 regulation is an irreplaceable network that is able to harmonize vital cellular functions with adjusted mitochondrial metabolism to enhance cellular homeostasis.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Further investigation of the coordinative mechanism that regulates mitochondrial activities in sublethal stress conditions, including LDIR, will reveal new insights of how cells cope with genotoxic injury and will be vital for future targeted therapeutic interventions that reduce environmental injury and cancer risk.

The new radiobiology: returning to our roots

In 2005, two expert advisory bodies examined the evidence on the effects of low doses of ionizing radiation. The U.S. National Research Council concluded that current scientific evidence is consistent with the linear no-threshold dose-response relationship (NRCNA 2005) while the French National Academies of Science and Medicine concluded the opposite (Aurengo et al. 2005). These contradictory conclusions may stem in part from an emphasis on epidemiological data (a "top down" approach) versus an emphasis on biological mechanisms (a "bottom up" approach). In this paper, the strengths and limitations of the top down and bottom up approaches are discussed, and proposals for strengthening and reconciling them are suggested. The past seven years since these two reports were published have yielded increasing evidence of nonlinear responses of biological systems to low radiation doses delivered at low dose-rates. This growing body of evidence is casting ever more doubt on the extrapolation of risks observed at high doses and dose-rates to estimate risks associated with typical environmental and occupational exposures. This paper compares current evidence on low dose, low dose-rate effects against objective criteria of causation. Finally, some questions for a post-LNT world are posed.

Increased Radioresistance to Lethal Doses of Gamma Rays in Mice and Rats after Exposure to Microwave Radiation Emitted by a GSM Mobile Phone Simulator

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pre-irradiation with microwaves on the induction of radioadaptive response. In the 1(st) phase of the study, 110 male mice were divided into 8 groups. The animals in these groups were exposed/sham-exposed to microwave, low dose rate gamma or both for 5 days. On day six, the animals were exposed to a lethal dose (LD). In the 2(nd) phase, 30 male rats were divided into 2 groups of 15 animals. The 1(st) group received microwave exposure. The 2(nd) group (controls) received the same LD but there was no treatment before the LD. On day 5, all animals were whole-body irradiated with the LD. Statistically significant differences between the survival rate of the mice only exposed to lethal dose of gamma radiation before irradiation with a lethal dose of gamma radiation with those of the animals pre-exposed to either microwave (p=0.02), low dose rate gamma (p=0.001) or both of these physical adapting doses (p=0.003) were observed. Likewise, a statistically significant difference between survival rates of the rats in control and test groups was observed. Altogether, these experiments showed that exposure to microwave radiation may induce a significant survival adaptive response.

The role of x-rays in the treatment of gas gangrene: a historical assessment

While the use of x-rays to treat patients with gas gangrene ended in the early 1940's with the advent of antibiotics, x-ray had been widely accepted as a useful and highly effective treatment for this condition. The present paper re-assesses the historical foundations of this belief, the quality of the data, use of confirmatory animal models, and underlying mechanisms that might account for the therapeutic role of x-rays in the treatment of gas gangrene.

Biological effects and adaptive response from single and repeated computed tomography scans in reticulocytes and bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice

This study investigated the biological effects and adaptive responses induced by single and repeated in vivo computed tomography (CT) scans. We postulated that, through the induction of low-level oxidative stress, repeated low-dose CT scans (20 mGy, 2 days/week, 10 weeks) could protect mice (C57BL/6) from acute effects of high-dose radiation (1 Gy, 2 Gy). The micronucleated reticulocyte (MN-RET) count increased linearly after exposure to single CT scans of doses ranging from 20 to 80 mGy (P = 0.033). Ten weeks of repeated CT scans (total dose 400 mGy) produced a slight reduction in spontaneous MN-RET levels relative to levels in sham CT-scanned mice (P = 0.04). Decreases of nearly 10% in γ-H2AX fluorescence levels were observed in the repeated CT-scanned mice after an in vitro challenge dose of 1 Gy (P = 0.017) and 2 Gy (P = 0.026). Spontaneous apoptosis levels (caspase 3 and 7 activation) were also significantly lower in the repeated CT-scanned mice than the sham CT-scanned mice (P < 0.01). In contrast, mice receiving only a single CT scan showed a 19% elevation in apoptosis (P < 0.02) and a 10% increase in γ-H2AX fluorescence levels after a 2-Gy challenge (P < 0.05) relative to sham CT controls. Overall, repeated CT scans seemed to confer resistance to larger doses in mice, whereas mice exposed to single CT scans exhibited transient genotoxicity, enhanced apoptosis, and characteristics of radiation sensitization.

Low-dose radiation therapy of cancer: role of immune enhancement

The efficacy of conventional radiation therapy, one of the most widely used treatment modalities of cancer, is limited by resistance of tumors as well as normal tissue toxicity. In the last decade, several studies have shown that protocols using low-dose radiation (LDR) are more effective in providing local tumor control with negligible normal tissue toxicity. LDR stimulates antioxidant capacity, repair of DNA damage, apoptosis and induction of immune responses, which might be collectively responsible for providing effective local tumor control. This article focuses on the immunostimulatory effects of LDR in in vivo models and its clinical efficacy, supporting the use of LDR regimens (alone or as adjuvant) as an anticancer treatment.

Adaptive response: modelling and experimental studies

Adaptive response (AR) is a term that has been generally accepted to describe the ability of a low 'priming' radiation dose to decrease the cell response to a subsequent higher 'challenging' dose. The main proposed mechanisms to explain AR are: increased efficiency of DNA repair and induction of antioxidant enzymes. A model that considers a modulation of the efficiency of DNA repair activity and of the level of antioxidant enzymes, starting from the framework of a lethal-potentially lethal (LPL) model is proposed. The LPL model has been extended with the inclusion of the dynamic variables representing the efficiency of repair, the levels of radiation induced radicals and of antioxidant enzymes. The model used here is able to describe the protective effect of a priming dose. Moreover, in agreement with the data in the literature, the simulations show that the AR happens in given priming dose and priming dose-rate ranges only, and requires at least 4 h to develop. In order to get more insights into the role of cell-cell communication as factors affecting the AR, experimental studies were planned using sparse or confluent AG1522 cell monolayer. The results obtained after gamma irradiation suggest that cell density is a crucial factor for observing an AR.

Alterations of immune functions induced by 12C6+ ion irradiation in mice

PURPOSE

To estimate the biological risks to the immune system of the type of space radiation, 12C6+, encountered by cosmonauts during long-term travel in space.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Kun-Ming strain mice were whole-body irradiated by 12C6+ ion with 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.075, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1 or 2 Gy, at a dose rate of 1 Gy/min. At 35 days after irradiation, the thymus and spleen weights were measured, the natural killer (NK) cells activity of spleen was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), and the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in serum and thymus were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

RESULTS

The results showed that the thymus weight, IFN-gamma levels in serum and the activity of splenic NK-cells had significantly increased at a dose of 0.05 Gy. With further dose increase, the weight of spleen continued to increase but the weight of thymus, IFN-gamma level and NK-cells activity declined.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the dose of 0.05 Gy irradiation has a stimulatory effect on mouse immunity; this effect declined with increasing dose.

Hormetic Dose-Response Relationships in Immunology: Occurrence, Quantitative Features of the Dose Response, Mechanistic Foundations, and Clinical Implications

This article provides an assessment of the occurrence of immune-system-related hormetic-like biphasic dose-response relationships. Such dose-response relationships are extensive, with over 90 different immune response-related endpoints reported, induced by over 70 endogenous agonists, over 100 drugs, and over 40 environmental contaminants. Such hormetic responses were reported in over 30 animal models, over a dozen mammalian and human cell lines. These findings demonstrate that immune-system-related hormetic-like biphasic dose-response relationships are common and highly generalizable according to model, endpoint, and chemical class. The quantitative features of the dose response are generally consistent with previously published examples of hormetic dose responses for other biological endpoints. These findings were generally recognized and explicitly discussed by the original authors, often with consideration given to possible mechanistic foundations as well as numerous clinical implications. Despite the recognition by individual authors of the hormetic nature of these observed responses, the overall widespread nature of immune-related hormetic responses has been only little appreciated, with a general lack of insight into the highly generalizable nature of this phenomenon as well as the complex regulatory networks affecting biological switching mechanisms that result in the hormetic responses.

NF-kappa B-mediated adaptive resistance to ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation (IR) began to be a powerful medical modality soon after Wilhelm Röntgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895. Today, more than 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy at some time during the course of their disease. Recent technical developments have significantly increased the precision of dose delivery to the target tumor, making radiotherapy more efficient in cancer treatment. However, tumor cells have been shown to acquire a radioresistance that has been linked to increased recurrence and failure in many patients. The exact mechanisms by which tumor cells develop an adaptive resistance to therapeutic fractional irradiation are unknown, although low-dose IR has been well defined for radioadaptive protection of normal cells. This review will address the radioadaptive response, emphasizing recent studies of molecular-level reactions. A prosurvival signaling network initiated by the transcription factor NF-kappa B, DNA-damage sensor ATM, oncoprotein HER-2, cell cyclin elements (cyclin B1), and mitochondrial functions in radioadaptive resistance is discussed. Further elucidation of the key elements in this prosurvival network may generate novel targets for resensitizing the radioresistant tumor cells.

Converging concepts: adaptive response, preconditioning, and the Yerkes-Dodson Law are manifestations of hormesis

The adaptive response in toxicology and environmental mutagenesis, preconditioning in biomedicine and the Yerkes-Dodson Law in psychology have dominating research themes with widespread and significant scientific and societal implications. This paper suggests that these apparently independent biological dose-response phenomena are manifestations of the common and more general biphasic dose-response relationship concept called hormesis. These three types of dose-response, as well as the hormesis concept, may represent the same general type of adaptation, which were discovered independently in different biological disciplines, amongst which there has been little communication. This intellectual isolation, due principally to progressively greater disciplinary specialization, resulted in the evolution of different terminologies for dose-response phenomena with strikingly similar quantitative features. This lack of recognition of converging dose-response concepts across disciplines has important implications since it limits the recognition of a common and basic biological concept while minimizing collaborations by investigators in related areas. The paper concludes that the broadly recognized biological adaptive responses, as described by the concepts of adaptive response, preconditioning and the Yerkes-Dodson Law, are special cases of the more general hormesis dose-response concept.

Low dose radiation increased the therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide on S(180) sarcoma bearing mice

We examined whether low dose radiation (LDR) exposure (75 mGy) could increase the therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide (CTX) by comparing the effects of tumor suppression, tumor cell apoptosis, cell cycle and proliferation of bone marrow in vivo. Kunming mice implanted with S(180) sarcoma cells were given 75 mGy whole body gamma-ray radiation exposure and CTX (300 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection 36 hours after LDR. Proliferation of bone marrow and tumor cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytochrome c leakage from the tumor was measured by Western-blot. We discovered that tumor growth was significantly reduced in the group exposed to CTX add to LDR. The apoptosis of tumor cells increased significantly after LDR. The tumor cells were arrested in G(1) phase in the groups treated with CTX and CTX + LDR, but cell cycle was more significantly arrested in mice exposed to LDR followed by CTX than in mice exposed only to LDR or CTX chemotherapy. Concentration of bone marrow cells and proliferation index in CTX + LDR mice were higher than those in the untreated mice. LDR or CTX + LDR could induce greater cytochrome c levels and caspase-3 activity in tumors. These results suggest that low dose radiation can enhance the anti-tumor effect of the chemotherapy agent CTX markedly. Furthermore, LDR significantly protects hematopoetic function of the bone marrow, which is of practical significance on adjuvant chemotherapy.

Modification of low dose radiation induced radioresistance by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: mechanistic aspects

Use of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in combination with radiotherapy to radio-sensitize the tumor tissue is undergoing clinical trials. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of 2-DG on radiation induced radioresistance (RIR) in normal cells. The sub-lethal radiation dose to the normal cells at the periphery of target tumor tissue is likely to induce radioresistance and protect the cells from lethal radiation dose. 2-DG, since, enters both normal and tumor cells, this study have clinical relevance. A diploid respiratory proficient strain D7 of S. cerevisiae was chosen as the model system. In comparison to non-pre-irradiated cultures, the cultures that were pre-exposed to low doses of UVC (254 nm) or (60)Co-gamma-radiation, then maintained in phosphate buffer (pH 6.0, 67 mM), containing 10 mM glucose (PBG), for 2-5 h, showed 18-35% higher survivors (CFUs) after subsequent exposure to corresponding radiation at lethal doses suggesting the radiation induced radioresistance (RIR). The RIR, in the absence of 2-DG, was associated with reduced mutagenesis, decreased DNA damage, and enhanced recombinogenesis. Presence of 2-DG in PBG countered the low dose induced increase in survivors and protection to DNA damage. It also increased mutagenesis, altered the recombinogenesis and the expression of rad50 gene. The changes differed quantitatively with the type of radiation and the absorbed dose. These results, since, imply the side effects of 2-DG, it is suggested that new approaches are needed to minimize the retention of 2-DG in normal cells at the time of radiation exposure.

Low-dose radiation (LDR) induces hematopoietic hormesis: LDR-induced mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells into peripheral blood circulation

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the stimulating effect of low-dose radiation (LDR) on bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) proliferation and peripheral blood mobilization.

METHODS

Mice were exposed to 25- to 100-mGy x-rays. Bone marrow and peripheral blood HPCs (BFU-E, CFU-GM, and c-kit+ cells) were measured, and GM-CSF, G-CSF, and IL-3 protein and mRNA expression were detected using ELISA, slot blot hybridization, and Northern blot methods. To functionally evaluate LDR-stimulated and -mobilized HPCs, repopulation of peripheral blood cells in lethally irradiated recipients after transplantation of LDR-treated donor HPCs was examined by WBC counts, animal survival, and colony-forming units in the recipient spleens (CFUs-S).

RESULTS

75-mGy x-rays induced a maximal stimulation for bone marrow HPC proliferation (CFU-GM and BFU-E formation) 48 hours postirradiation, along with a significant increase in HPC mobilization into peripheral blood 48 to 72 hours postradiation, as shown by increases in CFU-GM formation and proportion of c-kit+ cells in the peripheral mononuclear cells. 75-mGy x-rays also maximally induced increases in G-CSF and GM-CSF mRNA expression in splenocytes and levels of serum GM-CSF. To define the critical role of these hematopoietic-stimulating factors in HPC peripheral mobilization, direct administration of G-CSF at a dose of 300 microg/kg/day or 150 microg/kg/day was applied and found to significantly stimulate GM-CFU formation and increase c-kit+ cells in the peripheral mononuclear cells. More importantly, 75-mGy x-rays plus 150 microg/kg/day G-CSF (LDR/150-G-CSF) produced a similar effect to that of 300 microg/kg/day G-CSF alone. Furthermore, the capability of LDR-mobilized donor HPCs to repopulate blood cells was confirmed in lethally irradiated recipient mice by counting peripheral WBC and CFUs-S.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that LDR induces hematopoietic hormesis, as demonstrated by HPC proliferation and peripheral mobilization, providing a potential approach to clinical application for HPC peripheral mobilization.

Adaptive response induction and variation in human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Adaptive response is a term used to describe the ability of a low, priming dose of ionizing radiation to modify the effects of a subsequent higher, challenge dose, but it has been observed to be highly variable in both presence and magnitude. To examine this variability, 10 human lymphoblastoid cell lines were screened for adaptability to 137Cs radiation by determining the frequency of micronuclei in binucleated cells. Of these, six adapted, three did not adapt and one was synergistic. The assay was then repeated on each of the cell lines to test for reproducibility. Five cell lines showed the same result both times; four of these adapted and one did not. To determine whether fluctuations in the cell cycle distribution in the irradiated population of cells could alter the adaptive response, and therefore explain some of the observed variability, two of the cell lines were tested for adaptation after enriching the population, by synchronization, for a given cell cycle stage. In both cell lines, the direction of the response was altered when the distribution of cells within the cell cycle was changed, suggesting that the adaptive response can be affected by cell cycle stage at the time of irradiation.

Radiomodification of glyoxalase I in the liver and spleen of mice: adaptive response and split-dose effect

Glyoxalase system, particularly glyoxalase I (Gly I) plays an important role in regulation of cell division and is considered to be a metabolic indicator of cell proliferation. The glyoxalase system is likely to have a close link with cellular radiosensitivity. Therefore, we have examined the effect of adaptive and split-dose of y-rays on the activity of Gly I in the liver and spleen of mice. For the adaptive response studies, mice pre-treated with a conditioning dose of 0.5 Gy were given a challenging dose of 4 Gy at varying time intervals. In the split-dose studies, a dose of 4 Gy was delivered into two equal fractions and spaced at different time intervals. The results show that pre-exposure to a conditioning dose or the fractionation of total dose decreased the specific activity of Gly I in the liver and spleen of mice. The decreased activity of Gly I was suggestive of protective action induced by the conditioning dose and fractionation of dose. The similar pattern of radiation response of Gly I probably supported the possibility of involvement of a common pathway in the radiation-induced adaptive and split-dose effect. From these observations a close link between the Gly I and the adaptive-response as well as the split-dose effect is speculated. Since, the glyoxalase system is vital for a variety of biological functions including cell division and repair, the present findings may have relevance in understanding the dose-fractionation as well as the biological defence induced by low doses of radiations.

Protective effects of extracted human-liver RNA, a known interferon inducer, against radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in male mice

Cells in vitro or in vivo pre-exposed to low-dose radiation (LDR) or low concentrations of chemical mutagens became more resistant to large-dose radiation-induced DNA or chromosome damage. This was known as radio-adaptive response, for which the exact mechanism was unclear. However, multiple cellular and molecular responses to LDR have been documented, for instance, the induction of some cytokines such as interferon (IFN). Administration of exogenous IFN to cultured cells or mice showed marked radio-protection. In the present study, we investigated the in vivo radio-protective effects of extracted human liver RNA (HL-RNA), a known IFN inducer, indirectly to determine the radio-protective action of endogenous IFN. First, mice were administered with 6.25 mg/kg HL-RNA at different times before exposure to radiation and the 24 h pretreatment offered the optimal protective action for HL-RNA on cytogenetic effects in bone marrow cells. When the mice were treated with different concentrations of HL-RNA for 24 h, a wide dose-range (25-100 mg/kg) of HL-RNA resulted in a marked protection from X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations in both bone marrow cells and germ cells. In subsequent experiments, a protective effect of pretreatment with 25 mg/kg HL-RNA for 24 h was also found for radiation-induced micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE), and inhibition of DNA repair ability (unscheduled DNA synthesis, UDS). These results demonstrated that HL-RNA, an IFN inducer, is able to offer significant cytogenetic protection from radiation, implying indirectly that the induction of IFN by LDR may also play a protective role as one of the mechanisms in the induction of the cytogenetic adaptive response.

Both bovine and rabbit lymphocytes conditioned with hydrogen peroxide show an adaptive response to radiation damage

We have carried out experiments to study the possible induction of an adaptive response in cultured bovine and rabbit lymphocytes conditioned with subtoxic doses of hydrogen peroxide after stimulation and subsequently challenged with 1 Gy of X-rays. Peroxide treatment was given at different doses 48 h after the addition of PHA to stimulate the cells. A protective effect of pre-exposure to H2O2 against radiation damage detected as micronuclei in binucleated cells was evident for all the animals tested regardless the dose of H2O2 used, although this effect was in general of greater magnitude in bovine than in rabbit cells. These results lend further support to our previous finding in human lymphocytes that DNA single strand breaks induced by H2O2 (most likely due to the generation of hydroxyl radicals) is the most important lesion to trigger the adaptive response.

Relationship between radiation induced adaptive response in human fibroblasts and changes in chromatin conformation

Chromatin conformation changes in the normal human fibroblasts VH-10 were studied by the method of anomalous viscosity time dependence (AVTD). Gamma-irradiation of cells in a dose range of 0.1-3 Gy caused an increase in maximal viscosity of cell lysates. Conversely, irradiation of cells with low doses of 0.5 or 2 cGy resulted in a decrease in the AVTD peaks with a maximum effect approximately 40 min after irradiation. The same exposure conditions were used to study a possible adaptive effect of low doses, measured by changes in cell survival. A primary dose of 2 cGy caused significant modification of cell response to a challenge dose. Approximately 20% protection to challenge doses of 0.5 Gy (p < 0.003), 2 Gy (p < 0.02) and 2.5 Gy (p < 0.002) was observed. However, the direction of this effect (adaptation or synergism) was found to be dependent on a challenge dose. The combined effect of 2 cGy and 1 Gy was significantly synergistic, while no modification was observed for 1.5 Gy and 3 Gy. A partial correlation was found between the AVTD changes and cell survival when the combined effect of a primary dose of 2 cGy and challenge dose was examined. The dose of 2 cGy alone increased survival by 16% (p < 0.0003). These results suggest that the low-dose induced effects on survival may be related to chromatin reorganization.

Adaptive response to ionizing radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in rabbit lymphocytes: effect of pre-exposure to zinc, and copper salts

Various stress conditions including exposure to low-dose radiation and low concentrations of chemical mutagens can induce an adaptive response to subsequent radiation-induced chromosome damage. In this study, the effect of pretreatment of rabbit lymphocytes with zinc or copper salts on radiation-induced chromosome damage was investigated. Pretreatment of rabbit peripheral lymphocytes with Zn (50 microM in vitro or 100 mumol/g body weight in vivo) resulted in resistance to gamma radiation (2.0 Gy)-induced chromosome aberrations such as dicentrics plus centric rings and cells with chromosome aberrations. On the other hand, pretreatment with Cu (50 microM in vitro) did not show any protective effect on radiation-induced chromosome damage in rabbit lymphocytes. However, the concentration of metallothionein increased in activated lymphocytes 24 h after in vitro pretreatment with both Zn and Cu. In addition, gamma-radiation-induced calf thymus DNA damage could be prevented directly by the addition of Zn-metallothionein in the cell-free system. These results suggest that the induction of zinc-metallothionein synthesis may act as one of the defensive mechanisms to the induction of cytogenetic adaptive response to ionizing radiation while copper-metallothionein did not show any radioprotective effect.

Cytogenetic adaptive response with multiple small X-ray doses in mouse germ cells and its biological influence on the offspring of adapted males

Cytogenetic adaptive response of mouse germ cells was studied by exposing male mice to a sequence of 4 conditioning doses of 0.05 Gy each (D1) administered at 10-day intervals and subsequently to a single challenging dose of 1.5 Gy (D2). In concurrent experiments, male mice after treatment with D1 doses alone were mated to unirradiated females and the F1 males were given the D2 dose. Chromosomal aberrations in both spermatocytes and bone-marrow cells and UV-induced UDS in splenocytes of these mice were studied. Adapted mice (i.e., D1 + D2 exposures) responded with a significantly lower frequency of chromosomal aberrations than the non-adapted (D2 exposure only) controls. The relative reduction in frequencies was, however, similar to that observed in earlier work with a single conditioning dose of 0.05 Gy. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in spermatocytes and bone-marrow cells as well as the levels of UV-induced UDS in splenocytes of the F1 males in the group D1 to fathers + D2 to F1 males were the same as those in F1 males which received only the D2 exposure.

On the genetic background of the adaptive response to X-rays in Drosophila melanogaster

The effects of a low dose (0.1-20 mGy) preirradiation with X-rays followed by a higher dose (2 Gy) of the same radiation on the recovery of the genetic damage induced as dominant lethals in mature oocytes (stage 14) of different strains of Drosophila melanogaster were investigated. The response was shown to be dependent on the genotype of the flies tested, since lower frequencies of dominant lethals (DL) were only obtained in strains carrying the white mutation. Based on these observations experiments to locate the genetic factor responsible for the adaptive response (AR) were performed. This factor was found to be in a specific region of the X-chromosome. Additional experiments were carried out to give information on the minimal dose required to induce the AR. The results showed that the lowest dose needed is 0.2 mGy. Increasing the conditioning X-ray dose had no influence on the response.

Micronuclei and 3AB index in human and canine lymphocytes after in vitro X-irradiation

The comparative study of different species could be of interest, both applied and pure, to the field of cytogenetic damage induced by genotoxic agents. For as accurate as possible an evaluation of the inter-species response differences to radiation, we have carried out a comparison between the behaviors of human and canine lymphocytes, using the micronucleus assay (MN test) according to the cytokinesis-block method. Up to 4 Gy doses, canine lymphocytes have been found to be about three times more radiosensitive than human lymphocytes, due to blastization inhibition (binucleation failure), and, for 1 and 2 Gy doses, about 1.3 times more radiosensitive, due to MN yields. We discuss whether the differing chromosome number (dog 78 and man 46) could have any effect on the cytogenetic response. 3-Aminobenzamide, which inhibits poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity, is able to increase the genotoxic effect of X-rays in human lymphocytes, with a different response at the individual level. The same phenomenon with the same characteristics is also found in canine lymphocytes at the inter-individual level. Our in vitro radiobiological study confirms that the cytogenetic response obtained in blood from selected breeds of mammalian species can be utilized for applications in environmental studies.

DNA excision repair as a component of adaptation to low doses of ionizing radiation in Escherichia coli

In this study we examined whether or not DNA excision repair is a component of adaptation induced by very low-dose ionizing radiation in Escherichia coli, a well-characterized prokaryote, and investigated the relationship between enhanced excision repair and the SOS response. Competent E. coli cells were irradiated using low doses (0.1-10 Gy) of 137Cs gamma-rays, allowed to recover for 2 h and were then transformed using pUC18 DNA containing approximately 22 oxidized thymine residues (thymine glycols) per molecule. Successful transformants were identified by recovery of plasmid-borne ampicillin resistance and the resulting data (colony counts) were used to calculate ratios of plasmid recovery in irradiated to control cells. Results showed that cells irradiated with very low doses (0.1-0.5 Gy) were up to 30-40% more efficient at utilizing thymine glycol-containing pUC18 DNA. The enhanced excision repair by very low doses (< 0.5 Gy) of gamma-rays was shown to be independent of the recA-controlled SOS response in experiments using recA cells or cells carrying recA-lacZ gene fusions. The stimulating effect in AB1157 prototype cells were subsequently confirmed using a DNA precipitation assay in which DNA incision events were accumulated by inhibiting DNA ligation with ethidium bromide. Our data suggest that there seems to be narrow 'windows' of dose-effect for the induction of SOS-independent DNA excision repair. Being similar to mammalian cell studies, the dose range for this effect was about 200-fold less than D37 for radiation survival.

Low-dose radiation-induced adaptive response in bone marrow cells of mice

Using bone marrow cells of whole body irradiated mice, the cytogenetic adaptive response induced by low conditioning doses of gamma-rays was investigated. The conditioning doses (0.025 and 0.05 Gy) were given at a dose-rate of 1.67 Gy/min. The challenging dose of 1 Gy was given at a dose-rate of 0.045 Gy/s. The challenging dose was given at different time intervals after the conditioning dose. The time intervals between the conditioning dose and challenging dose were 2, 7.5, 13, 18.5 and 24 h. When the time interval between the conditioning dose and the challenging dose was 2 h, both conditioning doses (0.025 and 0.05 Gy) reduced the frequency of MNPCEs and chromosomal aberrations in the bone marrow cells. The data collected at different time intervals (7.5, 13, 18.5 h) reveal that the radioadaptive response persisted for a longer time when the lower conditioning dose (0.025 Gy) was given. With the higher conditioning dose (0.05 Gy), the radioadaptive response disappeared after a time interval of 13 h. When the time interval between the conditioning dose and the challenging doses was 18.5 or 24 h, only the lower conditioning dose appeared effective in inducing the radioadaptive response.