Induction of bystander response in human glioma cells using high-energy electrons: a role for TGF-beta1

Granulysin-mediated reduction of PDZRN3 induces Cx43 gap junctions activity exacerbating skin damage in trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome

Trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (THS) has been a concern for many researchers in the field of environmental and occupational health. Currently, there is no specific treatment for THS, leaving patients to contend with severe infections arising from extensive skin lesions, consequently leading to serious adverse effects. However, the pathogenesis of severe skin damage in THS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the specific danger signals and mechanisms underlying skin damage in THS through in vivo and in vitro experiments. We identified that cell supernatant containing 15 kDa granulysin (GNLY), released from activated CD3-CD56+NK cells or CD3+CD56+NKT cells in PBMC induced by TCE or its metabolite, promoted apoptosis in HaCaT cells. The apoptosis level decreased upon neutralization of GNLY in the supernatant by a GNLY-neutralizing antibody in HaCaT cells. Subcutaneous injection of recombinant 15 kDa GNLY exacerbated skin damage in the THS mouse model and better mimicked patients' disease states. Recombinant 15 kDa GNLY could directly induce cellular communication disorders, inflammation, and apoptosis in HaCaT cells. In addition to its cytotoxic effects, GNLY released from TCE-activated NK cells and NKT cells or synthesized GNLY alone could induce aberrant expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase PDZRN3, causing dysregulation of the ubiquitination of the cell itself. Consequently, this resulted in the persistent opening of gap junctions composed of connexin43, thereby intensifying cellular inflammation and apoptosis through the "bystander effect". This study provides experimental evidence elucidating the mechanisms of THS skin damage and offers a novel theoretical foundation for the development of effective therapies targeting severe dermatitis induced by chemicals or drugs.

Primary cilium participates in radiation-induced bystander effects through TGF-β1 signaling

Many studies have indicated that tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling mediates radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs). The primary cilium (PC) coordinates several signaling pathways including TGF-β signaling to regulate diverse cellular processes. But whether the PC participates in TGF-β induced RIBEs remains unclear. The cellular levels of TGF-β1 were detected by western blot analysis and the secretion of TGF-β1 was measured by ELISA kit. The ciliogenesis was altered by CytoD treatment, STIL siRNA transfection, IFT88 siRNA transfection, or KIF3a siRNA transfection, separately, and was detected by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. G0 /G1 phase cells were arrested by serum starvation and S phase cells were induced by double thymidine block. The TGF-β1 signaling was interfered by LY2109761, a TGF-β receptor 1 (TβR1) inhibitor, or TGF-β1 neutral antibody. The DNA damages were induced by TGF-β1 or radiated conditional medium (RCM) from irradiated cells and were reflected by p21 expression, 53BP1 foci, and γH2AX foci. Compared with unirradiated control, both A549 and Beas-2B cells expressed and secreted more TGF-β1 after carbon ion beam or X-ray irradiation. RCM collected from irradiated cells or TGF-β1 treatment caused an increase of DNA damage in cocultured unirradiated Beas-2B cells while blockage of TGF-β signaling by TβR1 inhibitor or TGF-β1 neutral antibody alleviates this phenomenon. IFT88 siRNA or KIF3a siRNA impaired PC formation resulted in an aggravated DNA damage in bystander cells, while elevated PC formation by CytoD or STIL siRNA resulted in a decrease of DNA damage. Furthermore, TGF-β1 induced more DNA damages in S phases cells which showed lower PC formation rate and less DNA damages in G0 /G1 phase cells which showed higher PC formation rate. This study demonstrates the particular role of primary cilia during RCM induced DNA damages through TGF-β1 signaling restriction and thereby provides a functional link between primary cilia and RIBEs.

Boosted Radiation Bystander Effect of PSMA-Targeted Gold Nanoparticles in Prostate Cancer Radiosensitization

Metal nanoparticles are effective radiosensitizers that locally enhance radiation doses in targeted cancer cells. Compared with other metal nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) exhibit high biocompatibility, low toxicity, and they increase secondary electron scatter. Herein, we investigated the effects of active-targeting GNPs on the radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) in prostate cancer cells. The impact of GNPs on the RIBE presents implications for secondary cancers or spatially fractionated radiotherapy treatments. Anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antibodies were conjugated with PEGylated GNPs through EDC-NHS chemistry. The media transfer technique was performed to induce the RIBE on the non-irradiated bystander cells. This study focused on the LNCaP cell line, because it can model a wide range of stages relating to prostate cancer progression, including the transition from androgen dependence to castration resistance and bone metastasis. First, LNCaP cells were pretreated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or PSMA-targeted GNPs (PGNPs) for 24 h and irradiated with 160 kVp X-rays (0-8 Gy). Following that, the collected culture media were filtered (sterile 0.45 µm polyethersulfone) in order to acquire PBS- and PGNP- conditioned media (CM). Then, PBS- and PGNP-CM were transferred to the bystander cells that were loaded with/without PGNPs. MTT, γ-H2AX, clonogenic assays and reactive oxygen species assessments were performed to compare RIBE responses under different treatments. Compared with 2 Gy-PBS-CM, 8 Gy-PBS-CM demonstrated a much higher RIBE response, thus validating the dose dependence of RIBE in LNCaP cells. Compared with PBS-CM, PGNP-CM exhibited lower cell viability, higher DNA damage, and a smaller survival fraction. In the presence of PBS-CM, bystander cells loaded with PGNPs showed increased cell death compared with cells that did not have PGNPs. These results demonstrate the PGNP-boosted expression and sensitivity of RIBE in prostate cancer cells.

Evidence for Recombinant GRP78, CALR, PDIA3 and GPI as Mediators of Genetic Instability in Human CD34+ Cells

Soluble factors released from irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may induce genetic instability in human CD34+ cells, potentially mediating hematologic disorders. Recently, we identified four key proteins in the secretome of X-ray-irradiated MSC, among them three endoplasmic reticulum proteins, the 78 kDa glucose-related protein (GRP78), calreticulin (CALR), and protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3), as well as the glycolytic enzyme glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI). Here, we demonstrate that exposition of CD34+ cells to recombinant GRP78, CALR, PDIA3 and GPI induces substantial genetic instability. Increased numbers of γH2AX foci (p < 0.0001), centrosome anomalies (p = 0.1000) and aberrant metaphases (p = 0.0022) were detected in CD34+ cells upon incubation with these factors. Specifically, γH2AX foci were found to be induced 4−5-fold in response to any individual of the four factors, and centrosome anomalies by 3−4 fold compared to control medium, which contained none of the recombinant proteins. Aberrant metaphases, not seen in the context of control medium, were detected to a similar extent than centrosome anomalies across the four factors. Notably, the strongest effects were observed when all four factors were collectively provided. In summary, our data suggest that specific components of the secretome from irradiated MSC act as mediators of genetic instability in CD34+ cells, thereby possibly contributing to the pathogenesis of radiation-induced hematologic disorders beyond direct radiation-evoked DNA strand breaks.

The intercellular communications mediating radiation-induced bystander effects and their relevance to environmental, occupational, and therapeutic exposures

PURPOSE

The assumption that traversal of the cell nucleus by ionizing radiation is a prerequisite to induce genetic damage, or other important biological responses, has been challenged by studies showing that oxidative alterations extend beyond the irradiated cells and occur also in neighboring bystander cells. Cells and tissues outside the radiation field experience significant biochemical and phenotypic changes that are often similar to those observed in the irradiated cells and tissues. With relevance to the assessment of long-term health risks of occupational, environmental and clinical exposures, measurable genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic changes have been also detected in the progeny of bystander cells. How the oxidative damage spreads from the irradiated cells to their neighboring bystander cells has been under intense investigation. Following a brief summary of the trends in radiobiology leading to this paradigm shift in the field, we review key findings of bystander effects induced by low and high doses of various types of radiation that differ in their biophysical characteristics. While notable mechanistic insights continue to emerge, here the focus is on the many means of intercellular communication that mediate these effects, namely junctional channels, secreted molecules and extracellular vesicles, and immune pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The insights gained by studying radiation bystander effects are leading to a basic understanding of the intercellular communications that occur under mild and severe oxidative stress in both normal and cancerous tissues. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these communications will likely contribute to reducing the uncertainty of predicting adverse health effects following exposure to low dose/low fluence ionizing radiation, guide novel interventions that mitigate adverse out-of-field effects, and contribute to better outcomes of radiotherapeutic treatments of cancer. In this review, we highlight novel routes of intercellular communication for investigation, and raise the rationale for reconsidering classification of bystander responses, abscopal effects, and expression of genomic instability as non-targeted effects of radiation.

CHO cell dysfunction due to radiation-induced bystander signals observed by real-time electrical impedance measurement

Radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE) have raised many concerns about radiation safety and protection. In RIBE, unirradiated cells receive signals from irradiated cells and exhibit irradiation effects. Until now, most RIBE studies have been based on morphological and biochemical characterization. However, research on the impact of RIBE on biophysical properties of cells has been lagging. Non-invasive indium tin oxide (ITO)-based impedance systems have been used as bioimpedance sensors for monitoring cell behaviors. This powerful technique has not been applied to RIBE research. In this work, we employed an electrical cell-ITO substrate impedance system (ECIIS) to study the RIBE on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The bioimpedance of bystander CHO cells (BCHO), alpha(α)-particle (Am-241) irradiated CHO (ICHO), and untreated/unirradiated CHO (UCHO) cells were monitored with a sampling interval of 8 s over a period of 24 h. Media from ICHO cells exposed to different radiation doses (0.3 nGy, 0.5 nGy, and 0.7 nGy) were used to investigate the radiation dose dependence of BCHO cells' impedance. In parallel, we imaged the cells at times where impedance changes were observed. By analyzing the changes in absolute impedance and cell size/cell number with time, we observed that BCHO cells mimicked ICHO cells in terms of modification in cell morphology and proliferation rate. Furthermore, these effects appeared to be time-dependent and inversely proportional to the radiation dose. Hence, this approach allows a label-free study of cellular responses to RIBE with high sensitivity and temporal resolution and can provide crucial insights into the RIBE mechanism.

Proteins Marking the Sequence of Genotoxic Signaling from Irradiated Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to CD34+ Cells

Non-targeted effects (NTE) of ionizing radiation may initiate myeloid neoplasms (MN). Here, protein mediators (I) in irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) as the NTE source, (II) in MSC conditioned supernatant and (III) in human bone marrow CD34+ cells undergoing genotoxic NTE were investigated. Healthy sublethal irradiated MSC showed significantly increased levels of reactive oxygen species. These cells responded by increasing intracellular abundance of proteins involved in proteasomal degradation, protein translation, cytoskeleton dynamics, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, and those with antioxidant activity. Among the increased proteins were THY1 and GNA11/14, which are signaling proteins with hitherto unknown functions in the radiation response and NTE. In the corresponding MSC conditioned medium, the three chaperones GRP78, CALR, and PDIA3 were increased. Together with GPI, these were the only four altered proteins, which were associated with the observed genotoxic NTE. Healthy CD34+ cells cultured in MSC conditioned medium suffered from more than a six-fold increase in γH2AX focal staining, indicative for DNA double-strand breaks, as well as numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations within three days. At this stage, five proteins were altered, among them IQGAP1, HMGB1, and PA2G4, which are involved in malign development. In summary, our data provide novel insights into three sequential steps of genotoxic signaling from irradiated MSC to CD34+ cells, implicating that induced NTE might initiate the development of MN.

It takes a village: microbiota, parainflammation, paligenosis and bystander effects in colorectal cancer initiation

Sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of worldwide cancer mortality. It arises from a complex milieu of host and environmental factors, including genetic and epigenetic changes in colon epithelial cells that undergo mutation, selection, clonal expansion, and transformation. The gut microbiota has recently gained increasing recognition as an additional important factor contributing to CRC. Several gut bacteria are known to initiate CRC in animal models and have been associated with human CRC. In this Review, we discuss the factors that contribute to CRC and the role of the gut microbiota, focusing on a recently described mechanism for cancer initiation, the so-called microbiota-induced bystander effect (MIBE). In this cancer mechanism, microbiota-driven parainflammation is believed to act as a source of endogenous mutation, epigenetic change and induced pluripotency, leading to the cancerous transformation of colon epithelial cells. This theory links the gut microbiota to key risk factors and common histologic features of sporadic CRC. MIBE is analogous to the well-characterized radiation-induced bystander effect. Both phenomena drive DNA damage, chromosomal instability, stress response signaling, altered gene expression, epigenetic modification and cellular proliferation in bystander cells. Myeloid-derived cells are important effectors in both phenomena. A better understanding of the interactions between the gut microbiota and mucosal immune effector cells that generate bystander effects can potentially identify triggers for parainflammation, and gain new insights into CRC prevention.

Genotoxic Bystander Signals from Irradiated Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Mainly Localize in the 10-100 kDa Fraction of Conditioned Medium

Genotoxic bystander signals released from irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may induce radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC), potentially causing leukemic transformation. Although the source of bystander signals is evident, the identification and characterization of these signals is challenging. Here, RIBEs were analyzed in human CD34+ cells cultured in distinct molecular size fractions of medium, conditioned by 2 Gy irradiated human MSC. Specifically, γH2AX foci (as a marker of DNA double-strand breaks) and chromosomal instability were evaluated in CD34+ cells grown in approximate (I) < 10 kDa, (II) 10–100 kDa and (III) > 100 kDa fractions of MSC conditioned medium and un-/fractionated control medium, respectively. Hitherto, significantly increased numbers of γH2AX foci (p = 0.0286) and aberrant metaphases (p = 0.0022) were detected in CD34+ cells grown in the (II) 10–100 kDa fraction (0.67 ± 0.10 γH2AX foci per CD34+ cell ∨ 3.8 ± 0.3 aberrant metaphases per CD34+ cell sample; mean ± SEM) when compared to (I) < 10 kDa (0.19 ± 0.01 ∨ 0.3 ± 0.2) or (III) > 100 kDa fractions (0.23 ± 0.04 ∨ 0.4 ± 0.4) or un-/fractionated control medium (0.12 ± 0.01 ∨ 0.1 ± 0.1). Furthermore, RIBEs disappeared after heat inactivation of medium at 75 °C. Taken together, our data suggest that RIBEs are mainly mediated by the heat-sensitive (II) 10–100 kDa fraction of MSC conditioned medium. We postulate proteins as RIBE mediators and in-depth proteome analyses to identify key bystander signals, which define targets for the development of next-generation anti-leukemic drugs.

Exosome-mediated radiosensitizing effect on neighboring cancer cells via increase in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species

The precise mechanism of intercellular communication between cancer cells following radiation exposure is unclear. Exosomes are membrane‑enclosed small vesicles comprising lipid bilayers and are mediators of intercellular communication that transport a variety of intracellular components, including microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs). The present study aimed to identify novel roles of exosomes released from irradiated cells to neighboring cancer cells. In order to confirm the presence of exosomes in the human pancreatic cancer cell line MIAPaCa‑2, ultracentrifugation was performed followed by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NanoSight) using the exosome‑specific surface markers CD9 and CD63. Subsequent endocytosis of exosomes was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. Cell survival following irradiation and the addition of exosomes was evaluated by colony forming assay. Expression levels of miRNAs in exosomes were then quantified by microarray analysis, while protein expression levels of Cu/Zn‑ and Mn‑superoxide dismutase (SOD1 and 2, respectively) enzymes in MIAPaCa‑2 cells were evaluated by western blotting. Results showed that the uptake of irradiated exosomes was significantly higher than that of non‑irradiated exosomes. Notably, irradiated exosomes induced higher intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a higher frequency of DNA damage in MIAPaCa‑2 cells, as determined by fluorescent microscopy and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Moreover, six up‑ and five downregulated miRNAs were identified in 5 and 8 Gy‑irradiated cells using miRNA microarray analyses. Further analysis using miRNA mimics and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR identified miR‑6823‑5p as a potential candidate to inhibit SOD1, leading to increased intracellular ROS levels and DNA damage. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that irradiated exosomes enhance the radiation effect via increasing intracellular ROS levels in cancer cells. This contributes to improved understanding of the bystander effect of neighboring cancer cells.

Radiation-Induced Bystander Effect can be Transmitted Through Exosomes Using miRNAs as Effector Molecules

The radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) is a destructive reaction in nonirradiated cells and is one primary factor in determining the efficacy and success of radiation therapy in the field of cancer treatment. Previously reported studies have shown that the RIBE can be mediated by exosomes that carry miRNA components within. Exosomes, which are one type of cell-derived vesicle, exist in different biological conditions and serve as an important additional pathway for signal exchange between cells. In addition, exosome-derived miRNAs are confirmed to play an important role in RIBE, activating the bystander effect and genomic instability after radiotherapy. After investigating the field of RIBE, it is important to understand the mechanisms and consequences of biological effects as well as the role of exosomes and exosomal miRNAs therein, from different sources and under different circumstances, respectively. More discoveries could help to establish early interventions against RIBE while improving the efficacy of radiotherapy. Meanwhile, measures that would alleviate or even inhibit RIBE to some extent may exist in the near future.

MicroRNA and ROS Crosstalk in Cardiac and Pulmonary Diseases

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) affect many cellular functions and the proper redox balance between ROS and antioxidants contributes substantially to the physiological welfare of the cell. During pathological conditions, an altered redox equilibrium leads to increased production of ROS that in turn may cause oxidative damage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level contributing to all major cellular processes, including oxidative stress and cell death. Several miRNAs are expressed in response to ROS to mediate oxidative stress. Conversely, oxidative stress may lead to the upregulation of miRNAs that control mechanisms to buffer the damage induced by ROS. This review focuses on the complex crosstalk between miRNAs and ROS in diseases of the cardiac (i.e., cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiomyopathy) and pulmonary (i.e., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer) compartments. Of note, miR-34a, miR-144, miR-421, miR-129, miR-181c, miR-16, miR-31, miR-155, miR-21, and miR-1/206 were found to play a role during oxidative stress in both heart and lung pathologies. This review comprehensively summarizes current knowledge in the field.

Relevance of Non-Targeted Effects for Radiotherapy and Diagnostic Radiology; A Historical and Conceptual Analysis of Key Players

Non-targeted effects (NTE) such as bystander effects or genomic instability have been known for many years but their significance for radiotherapy or medical diagnostic radiology are far from clear. Central to the issue are reported differences in the response of normal and tumour tissues to signals from directly irradiated cells. This review will discuss possible mechanisms and implications of these different responses and will then discuss possible new therapeutic avenues suggested by the analysis. Finally, the importance of NTE for diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine which stems from the dominance of NTE in the low-dose region of the dose–response curve will be presented. Areas such as second cancer induction and microenvironment plasticity will be discussed.

Direct and indirect effects of exposure to 900 MHz GSM radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on CHO cell line: Evidence of bystander effect by non-ionizing radiation

INTRODUCTION

The rapid rise in global concerns about the adverse health effects of exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) generated by common devices such as mobile phones has prompted scientists to further investigate the biological effects of these environmental exposures. Non-targeted effects (NTEs) are responses which do not need a direct exposure to be expressed and are particularly significant at low energy radiations. Although NTEs of ionizing radiation are well documented, there are scarcely any studies on non-targeted responses such as bystander effect (BE) after exposure to non-ionizing radiation. The main goal of this research is to study possible RFR-induced BE.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Chinese hamster ovary cells were exposed to 900 MHz GSM RFR at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2 W/kg for 4, 12 and 24 hours (h). To generate a uniformly distributed electromagnetic field and avoid extraneous RF exposures a cavity was desined and used. Cell membrane permeability, cell redox activity, metabolic and mitotic cell death and DNA damages were analyzed. Then the most effective exposure durations and statistically significant altered parameters were chosen to assess the induction of BE through medium transfer procedure. Furthermore, intra and extra cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured to assess the molecular mechanism of BE induced by non-ionizing radiation.

RESULTS

No statistically significant alteration was found in cell membrane permeability, cell redox activity, metabolic cell activity and micronuclei (MN) frequency in the cells directly exposed to RFR for 4, 12, or 24 h. However, RFR exposure for 24 h caused a statistically significant decrease in clonogenic ability as well as a statistically significant increase in olive moment in both directly exposed and bystander cells which received media from RFR-exposed cells (conditioned culture medium; CCM). Exposure to RFR also statistically significant elevated both intra and extra cellular levels of ROS.

CONCLUSION

Our observation clearly indicated the induction of BE in cells treated with CCM. To our knowledge, this is the first report that a non-ionizing radiation (900 MHz GSM RFR) can induce bystander effect. As reported for ionizing radiation, our results proposed that ROS can be a potential molecule in indirect effect of RFR. On the other hand, we found the importance of ROS in direct effect of RFR but in different ways.

Exosomes are released by bystander cells exposed to radiation-induced biophoton signals: Reconciling the mechanisms mediating the bystander effect

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to explore a possible molecular mechanism by which ultraviolet (UV) biophotons could elicit bystander responses in reporter cells and resolve the problem of seemingly mutually exclusive mechanisms of a physical UV signal & a soluble factor-mediated bystander signal.

METHODS

The human colon carcinoma cell line, HCT116 p53 +/+, was directly irradiated with 0.5 Gy tritium beta particles to induce ultraviolet biophoton emission. Bystander cells were not directly irradiated but were exposed to the emitted UV biophotons. Medium was subsequently harvested from UV-exposed bystander cells. The exosomes extracted from this medium were incubated with reporter cell populations. These reporter cells were then assayed for clonogenic survival and mitochondrial membrane potential with and without prior treatment of the exosomes with RNase.

RESULTS

Clonogenic cell survival was significantly reduced in reporter cells incubated with exosomes extracted from cells exposed to secondarily-emitted UV. These exosomes also induced significant mitochondrial membrane depolarization in receiving reporter cells. Conversely, exosomes extracted from non-UV-exposed cells did not produce bystander effects in reporter cells. The treatment of exosomes with RNase prior to their incubation with reporter cells effectively abolished bystander effects in reporter cells and this suggests a role for RNA in mediating the bystander response elicited by UV biophotons and their produced exosomes.

CONCLUSION

This study supports a role for exosomes released from UV biophoton-exposed bystander cells in eliciting bystander responses and also indicates a reconciliation between the UV-mediated bystander effect and the bystander effect which has been suggested in the literature to be mediated by soluble factors.

An evaluation of novel real-time technology as a tool for measurement of radiobiological and radiation-induced bystander effects

The xCELLigence real-time cell impedance system uses a non-invasive and label-free method to create a cell index that is a composite measure of cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to evaluate xCELLigence against clonogenic assay (gold standard) for measuring radiobiological effects and radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE). A radiobiological study was conducted by irradiating EMT6.5, 4T1.2 and NMUMG cell lines with different radiation doses, while a RIBE study was done using transfer of conditioned media (CM) harvested from donor to the same type of recipient cell (EMT6.5, 4T1.2, NMUMG, HACAT and SW48). CM was harvested using two protocols which differed in the dose chosen and the exposure to the recipient cells. Results showed that xCELLigence measured a radiobiological effect which correlated with the clonogenic assay. For the RIBE study, no statistically significant differences were observed between xCELLigence or clonogenic survival in control or recipient cells incubated with CM in protocol one. However, there was a significant increase in cell index slope using CM from EMT-6.5 cells irradiated at 7.5 Gy compared with the control group under the second protocol. No other evidence of RIBE was detected by either xCELLigence or clonogenic assay. In conclusion, xCELLigence methods can measure radiobiological effects and the results correlate with clonogenic assay. We observed a lack of RIBE in all tested cell lines with the clonogenic assay; however, we observed a RIBE effect in EMT6.5 cells under one particular protocol that showed RIBE is cell type dependent, is not universally observed and can be detected in different assays.

MiR-663 inhibits radiation-induced bystander effects by targeting TGFB1 in a feedback mode

The mechanisms of radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE) have been investigated intensively over the past two decades. Although quite a few reports demonstrated that cytokines such as TGF-β1 are induced within the directly irradiated cells and play critical roles in mediating the bystander effects, little is known about the signaling pathways that occur in bystander cells. The crucial question as to why RIBE signals cannot be infinitely transmitted, therefore, remains unclear. In the present study, we showed that miR-663, a radiosensitive microRNA, participates in the regulation of biological effects in both directly irradiated and bystander cells via its targeting of TGF-β1. MiR-663 was downregulated, while TGFB1 was upregulated in directly irradiated cells. The regulation profile of miR-663 and TGFB1, on the other hand, was reversed in bystander cells, in which an elevated miR-663 expression was exhibited and led to downregulation of TGF-β1. Further studies revealed that miR-663 interacts with TGFB1 directly and that through its binding to the core regulation sequence, miR-663 suppresses the expression of TGFB1. Based on the results, we propose that miR-663 inhibits the propagation of RIBE in a feedback mode, in which the induction of TGF-β1 by reduced miR-663 in directly irradiated cells leads to increased level of miR-663 in bystander cells. The upregulation of miR-663 in turn suppresses the expression of TGF-β1 and limits further transmission of the bystander signals.

Radiation-induced bystander effect in non-irradiated glioblastoma spheroid cells

Radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) are detected in cells that are not irradiated but receive signals from treated cells. The present study explored these bystander effects in a U87MG multicellular tumour spheroid model. A medium transfer technique was employed to induce the bystander effect, and colony formation assay was used to evaluate the effect. Relative changes in expression of BAX, BCL2, JNK and ERK genes were analysed using RT-PCR to investigate the RIBE mechanism. A significant decrease in plating efficiency was observed for both bystander and irradiated cells. The survival fraction was calculated for bystander cells to be 69.48% and for irradiated cells to be 34.68%. There was no change in pro-apoptotic BAX relative expression, but anti-apoptotic BCL2 showed downregulation in both irradiated and bystander cells. Pro-apoptotic JNK in bystander samples and ERK in irradiated samples were upregulated. The clonogenic survival data suggests that there was a classic RIBE in U87MG spheroids exposed to 4 Gy of X-rays, using a medium transfer technique. Changes in the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes indicate involvement of both intrinsic apoptotic and MAPK pathways in inducing these effects.

Radiation quality-dependence of bystander effect in unirradiated fibroblasts is associated with TGF-β1-Smad2 pathway and miR-21 in irradiated keratinocytes

Traditional radiation biology states that radiation causes damage only in cells traversed by ionizing radiation. But radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE), which refers to the biological responses in unirradiated cells when the neighboring cells are exposed to radiation, challenged this old dogma and has become a new paradigm of this field. By nature, RIBEs are the consequences of intercellular communication between irradiated and unirradiated cells. However, there are still some important questions remain unanswered such as whether RIBE is dependent on radiation quality, what are the determining factors if so, etc. Using a transwell co-culture system, we found that HaCaT keratinocytes irradiated with α-particles but not X-rays could induce bystander micronucleus formation in unirradiated WS1 fibroblasts after co-culture. More importantly, the activation of TGF-β1-Smad2 pathway and the consistent decrease of miR-21 level in α-irradiated HaCaT cells were essential to the micronucleus induction in bystander WS1 cells. On the other hand, X-irradiation did not induce bystander effect in unirradiated WS1 cells, accompanied by lack of Smad2 activation and consistent decrease of miR-21 in X-irradiated HaCaT cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the radiation quality-dependence of bystander effect may be associated with the TGF-β1-Smad2 pathway and miR-21 in irradiated cells.

Biological response of cancer cells to radiation treatment

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and has the ability to spread or metastasize throughout the body. In recent years, remarkable progress has been made toward the understanding of proposed hallmarks of cancer development, care, and treatment modalities. Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is an important and integral component of cancer management, mostly conferring a survival benefit. Radiation therapy destroys cancer by depositing high-energy radiation on the cancer tissues. Over the years, radiation therapy has been driven by constant technological advances and approximately 50% of all patients with localized malignant tumors are treated with radiation at some point in the course of their disease. In radiation oncology, research and development in the last three decades has led to considerable improvement in our understanding of the differential responses of normal and cancer cells. The biological effectiveness of radiation depends on the linear energy transfer (LET), total dose, number of fractions and radiosensitivity of the targeted cells or tissues. Radiation can either directly or indirectly (by producing free radicals) damages the genome of the cell. This has been challenged in recent years by a newly identified phenomenon known as radiation induced bystander effect (RIBE). In RIBE, the non-irradiated cells adjacent to or located far from the irradiated cells/tissues demonstrate similar responses to that of the directly irradiated cells. Understanding the cancer cell responses during the fractions or after the course of irradiation will lead to improvements in therapeutic efficacy and potentially, benefitting a significant proportion of cancer patients. In this review, the clinical implications of radiation induced direct and bystander effects on the cancer cell are discussed.

Cytokines: shifting the balance between glioma cells and tumor microenvironment after irradiation

Malignant gliomas invariably recur after irradiation, showing radioresistance. Meanwhile, cranial irradiation can bring some risk for developing cognitive dysfunction. There is increasing evidence that cytokines play their peculiar roles in these processes. On the one hand, cytokines directly influence the progression of malignant glioma, promoting or suppressing tumor progression. On the other hand, cytokines indirectly contribute to the immunologic response against gliomas, exhibiting pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive activities. We propose that cytokines are not simply unregulated products from tumor cells or immune cells, but mediators finely adjust the balance between glioma cells and tumor microenvironment after irradiation. The paper, therefore, focuses on the changes of cytokines after irradiation, analyzing how these mediate the response of tumor cells and normal cells to irradiation. In addition, cytokine-based immunotherapeutic strategies, accompanied with irradiation, for the treatment of gliomas are also discussed.

The role of TGF-β1-miR-21-ROS pathway in bystander responses induced by irradiated non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Background:

Many studies have indicated an important implication of radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) in cancer radiotherapy, but the detailed signalling remains unclear.

Methods:

The roles of tumour growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) and miR-21 in medium-mediated RIBEs in H1299 non-small-cell lung cancer cells were investigated using DNA damage, changes in proliferation and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as end points. SB431542, a specific inhibitor of TGF-β type 1 receptor kinases, was used to inhibit TGF-β1 pathways in irradiated and bystander cells. Exogenous miR-21 regulation was achieved through inhibitor or mimic transfection.

Results:

Compared with relative sham-radiation-conditioned medium, radiation-conditioned medium (RCM) from irradiated cells 1 h post radiation (1-h RCM) caused an increase in ROS levels and DNA damage in bystander cells, while 18-h RCM induced cell cycle delay and proliferation inhibition. All these effects were eliminated by TGF-βR1 inhibition. One-hour RCM upregulated miR-21 expression in bystander cells, and miR-21 inhibitor abolished bystander oxidative stress and DNA damage. Eighteen-hour RCM downregulated miR-21 of bystander cells, and miR-21 mimic eliminated bystander proliferation inhibition. Furthermore, the dysregulation of miR-21 was attenuated by TGF-βR1 inhibition.

Conclusions:

The TGF-β1–miR-21–ROS pathway of bystander cells has an important mediating role in RIBEs in H1299 cells.

The roles of TGF-β3 and peroxynitrite in removal of hyper-radiosensitivity by priming irradiation

PURPOSE

To investigate the mechanisms inducing and maintaining the permanent elimination of low dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) in cells given a dose of 0.3 Gy at low dose-rate (LDR) (0.3 Gy/h).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two human HRS-positive cell lines (T-47D, T98G) were used. The effects of pretreatments with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) neutralizers, TGF-β3 or peroxynitrite scavenger on HRS were investigated using the colony assay. Cytoplasmic levels of TGF-β3 were measured using post-embedding immunogold electron microscopic analysis.

RESULTS

TGF-β3 neutralizer inhibited the removal of HRS by LDR irradiation. Adding 0.001 ng/ml TGF-β3 to cells removed HRS in T98G cells while 0.01 ng/ml additionally induced resistance to higher doses. Cytoplasmic levels of TGF-β3 were higher in LDR-primed cells than in unirradiated cells. The presence of the peroxynitrite scavenger uric acid inhibited the effect of LDR irradiation. Furthermore, the permanent elimination of HRS in LDR-primed cells was reversed by treatment with uric acid. The removal of HRS by medium from hypoxic cells was inhibited by adding TGF-β3 neutralizer to the medium before transfer or by adding hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) inhibitor chetomin to the cell medium during hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONS

TGF-β3 is involved in the regulation of cellular responses to small doses of acute irradiation. TGF-β3 activation seems to be induced by low dose-rate irradiation by a mechanism involving inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and peroxynitrite, or during cycling hypoxia by a mechanism most likely involving HIF-1. The study suggests methods to turn resistance to doses in the HRS-range on (by TGF-β3) or off (by TGF-β3 neutralizer or by peroxynitrite inhibition).

Transforming growth factor-beta and its implication in the malignancy of gliomas

Malignant gliomas are the most common type of primary malignant brain tumors. They are characterized by enhanced growing capabilities, neoangiogenic proliferation, and extensive infiltration of the brain parenchyma, which make their complete surgical resection impossible. Together with transient and refractory responses to standard therapy, these aggressive neoplasms are incurable and present a median survival of 12 to 14 months. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine of which two of the three isoforms expressed in humans have been shown to be overexpressed proportionally to the histologic grade of glioma malignancy. The increase of chromosomal aberrations and genetic mutations observed in glioma cells turns TGF-β into an oncogene. For that reason, it plays critical roles in glioma progression through induction of several genes implicated in many carcinogenic processes such as proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion. Consequently, investigators have begun developing innovative therapeutics targeting this growth factor or its signaling pathway in an attempt to hinder TGF-β's appalling effects in order to refine the treatment of malignant gliomas and improve their prognosis. In this paper, we extensively review the TGF-β-induced oncogenic pathways and discuss the diverse new molecules targeting this growth factor.

The biological effect of large single doses: a possible role for non-targeted effects in cell inactivation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Novel radiotherapy techniques increasingly use very large dose fractions. It has been argued that the biological effect of large dose fractions may differ from that of conventional fraction sizes. The purpose was to study the biological effect of large single doses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clonogenic cell survival of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was determined after direct X-ray irradiation, irradiation of feeder cells, or transfer of conditioned medium (CM). Cell-cycle distributions and the apoptotic sub-G1 fraction were measured by flow cytometry. Cytokines in CM were quantified by a cytokine antibody array. γH2AX foci were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS

The surviving fraction of MCF7 cells irradiated in vitro with 12 Gy showed an 8.5-fold decrease (95% c.i.: 4.4-16.3; P<0.0001) when the density of irradiated cells was increased from 10 to 50×10(3) cells per flask. Part of this effect was due to a dose-dependent transferrable factor as shown in CM experiments in the dose range 5-15 Gy. While no effect on apoptosis and cell cycle distribution was observed, and no differentially expressed cytokine could be identified, the transferable factor induced prolonged expression of γH2AX DNA repair foci at 1-12 h.

CONCLUSIONS

A dose-dependent non-targeted effect on clonogenic cell survival was found in the dose range 5-15 Gy. The dependence of SF on cell numbers at high doses would represent a "cohort effect" in vivo. These results support the hypothesis that non-targeted effects may contribute to the efficacy of very large dose fractions in radiotherapy.

Bystander effects as manifestation of intercellular communication of DNA damage and of the cellular oxidative status

It is becoming increasingly clear that cells exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) and other genotoxic agents (targeted cells) can communicate their DNA damage response (DDR) status to cells that have not been directly irradiated (bystander cells). The term radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE) describes facets of this phenomenon, but its molecular underpinnings are incompletely characterized. Consequences of DDR in bystander cells have been extensively studied and include transformation and mutation induction; micronuclei, chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange formation; as well as modulations in gene expression, proliferation and differentiation patterns. A fundamental question arising from such observations is why targeted cells induce DNA damage in non-targeted, bystander cells threatening thus their genomic stability and risking the induction of cancer. Here, we review and synthesize available literature to gather support for a model according to which targeted cells modulate as part of DDR their redox status and use it as a source to generate signals for neighboring cells. Such signals can be either small molecules transported to adjacent non-targeted cells via gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC), or secreted factors that can reach remote, non-targeted cells by diffusion or through the circulation. We review evidence that such signals can induce in the recipient cell modulations of redox status similar to those seen in the originating targeted cell - occasionally though self-amplifying feedback loops. The resulting increase of oxidative stress in bystander cells induces, often in conjunction with DNA replication, the observed DDR-like responses that are at times strong enough to cause apoptosis. We reason that RIBE reflect the function of intercellular communication mechanisms designed to spread within tissues, or the entire organism, information about DNA damage inflicted to individual, constituent cells. Such responses are thought to protect the organism by enhancing repair in a community of cells and by eliminating severely damaged cells.

The role of nitric oxide radicals in removal of hyper-radiosensitivity by priming irradiation

In this study, a mechanism in which low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) is permanently removed, induced by low-dose-rate (LDR) (0.2-0.3 Gy/h for 1 h) but not by high-dose-rate priming (0.3 Gy at 40 Gy/h) was investigated. One HRS-negative cell line (NHIK 3025) and two HRS-positive cell lines (T-47D, T98G) were used. The effects of different pretreatments on HRS were investigated using the colony assay. Cell-based ELISA was used to measure nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels, and microarray analysis to compare gene expression in primed and unprimed cells. The data show how permanent removal of HRS, previously found to be induced by LDR priming irradiation, can also be induced by addition of nitric oxide (NO)-donor DEANO combined with either high-dose-rate priming or exposure to prolonged cycling hypoxia followed by reoxygenation, a treatment not involving radiation. The removal of HRS appears not to involve DNA damage induced during priming irradiation as it was also induced by LDR irradiation of cell-conditioned medium without cells present. The permanent removal of HRS in LDR-primed cells was reversed by treatment with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor 1400W. Furthermore, 1400W could also induce HRS in an HRS-negative cell line. The data suggest that LDR irradiation for 1 h, but not 15 min, activates iNOS, and also that sustained iNOS activation is necessary for the permanent removal of HRS by LDR priming. The data indicate that nitric oxide production is involved in the regulatory processes determining cellular responses to low-dose-rate irradiation.

The complex interactions between radiation induced non-targeted effects and cancer

Radiation induced non-targeted effects have been widely investigated in the last two decades for their potential impact on low dose radiation risk. In this paper we will give an overview of the most relevant aspects related to these effects, starting from the definition of the low dose scenarios. We will underline the role of radiation quality, both in terms of mechanisms of interaction with the biological matter and for the importance of charged particles as powerful tools for low dose effects investigation. We will focus on cell communication, representing a common feature of non-targeted effects, giving also an overview of cancer models that have explicitly considered such effects.

Radiation enhances the invasiveness of irradiated and nonirradiated bystander hepatoma cells through a VEGF-MMP2 pathway initiated by p53

Recent evidence has shown that irradiation can promote the invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and have an impact on the invasive behavior of nonirradiated surrounding cancer cells, which may enhance overall tumor aggressiveness. However, the role of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene in the invasion of irradiated hepatoma cells and their nonirradiated bystanders remain largely unknown. In the present study, we found that irradiation increased the invasiveness of human hepatoma HepG2 cells, and pretreatment of the cells with SU1498 (an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, VEGFR2) and GM6001 (an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 2, MMP2) demonstrated that radiation-enhanced invasiveness is associated with the interplay between MMP2 and VEGF signaling. In addition, while radiation-induced expression and phosphorylation of p53, inhibition of p53 function with pifithrin-α or transfection of cells with p53 siRNA significantly reduced the activation of both MMP2 and VEGF and resulted in a reduction of radiation-induced invasiveness. Interestingly, we also found that the invasiveness of the nonirradiated bystander cells was also elevated after co-culturing with irradiated cells and that bystander invasive potential was regulated paracrine in a manner by MMP2 and VEGF from the irradiated cells through a p53-dependent mechanism. Taken together, our data demonstrate that radiation-induced up-regulation of p53 is responsible for the promotion of VEGF-MMP2 pathway involved in the enhancement of invasiveness of both irradiated and bystander hepatoma cells.

Dose calculations for [(131)i] meta-iodobenzylguanidine-induced bystander effects

Targeted radiotherapy is a potentially useful treatment for some cancers and may be potentiated by bystander effects. However, without estimation of absorbed dose, it is difficult to compare the effects with conventional external radiation treatment.

METHODS

Using the Vynckier - Wambersie dose point kernel, a model for dose rate evaluation was created allowing for calculation of absorbed dose values to two cell lines transfected with the noradrenaline transporter (NAT) gene and treated with [(131)I]MIBG.

RESULTS

The mean doses required to decrease surviving fractions of UVW/NAT and EJ138/NAT cells, which received medium from [(131)I]MIBG-treated cells, to 25 - 30% were 1.6 and 1.7 Gy respectively. The maximum mean dose rates achieved during [(131)I]MIBG treatment were 0.09 - 0.75 Gy/h for UVW/NAT and 0.07 - 0.78 Gy/h for EJ138/NAT. These were significantly lower than the external beam gamma radiation dose rate of 15 Gy/h. In the case of control lines which were incapable of [(131)I]MIBG uptake the mean absorbed doses following radiopharmaceutical were 0.03 - 0.23 Gy for UVW and 0.03 - 0.32 Gy for EJ138.

CONCLUSION

[(131)I]MIBG treatment for ICCM production elicited a bystander dose-response profile similar to that generated by external beam gamma irradiation but with significantly greater cell death.

Non-targeted effects of ionising radiation--implications for low dose risk

Non-DNA targeted effects of ionising radiation, which include genomic instability, and a variety of bystander effects including abscopal effects and bystander mediated adaptive response, have raised concerns about the magnitude of low-dose radiation risk. Genomic instability, bystander effects and adaptive responses are powered by fundamental, but not clearly understood systems that maintain tissue homeostasis. Despite excellent research in this field by various groups, there are still gaps in our understanding of the likely mechanisms associated with non-DNA targeted effects, particularly with respect to systemic (human health) consequences at low and intermediate doses of ionising radiation. Other outstanding questions include links between the different non-targeted responses and the variations in response observed between individuals and cell lines, possibly a function of genetic background. Furthermore, it is still not known what the initial target and early interactions in cells are that give rise to non-targeted responses in neighbouring or descendant cells. This paper provides a commentary on the current state of the field as a result of the non-targeted effects of ionising radiation (NOTE) Integrated Project funded by the European Union. Here we critically examine the evidence for non-targeted effects, discuss apparently contradictory results and consider implications for low-dose radiation health effects.

Gap junctions and Bystander Effects: Good Samaritans and executioners

The "Bystander" and "Good Samaritan" effects involve the transfer of toxic or beneficial compounds from one cell to a generally adjacent other through gap junction channels and through extracellular routes. The variety of injuries in which bystander cell killing or protection occurs has greatly expanded in the last decade to include infectious agents and therapeutic compounds, radiation injury, chaperones in cell therapy and apoptosis in development. This has been accompanied by the appreciation that both gap junction mediated and paracrine routes are used for the signaling of the "kiss of life" and the "kiss of death" and that manipulations of these pathways and the molecules that use them may find therapeutic utility in treatment of a variety of pathological conditions.

Susceptibility to bystander DNA damage is influenced by replication and transcriptional activity

Direct cellular DNA damage may lead to genome destabilization in unexposed, bystander, cells sharing the same milieu with directly damaged cells by means of the bystander effect. One proposed mechanism involves double strand break (DSB) formation in S phase cells at sites of single strand lesions in the DNA of replication complexes, which has a more open structure compared with neighboring DNA. The DNA in transcription complexes also has a more open structure, and hence may be susceptible to bystander DSB formation from single strand lesions. To examine whether transcription predisposes non-replicating cells to bystander effect-induced DNA DSBs, we examined two types of primary cells that exhibit high levels of transcription in the absence of replication, rat neurons and human lymphocytes. We found that non-replicating bystander cells with high transcription rates exhibited substantial levels of DNA DSBs, as monitored by γ-H2AX foci formation. Additionally, as reported in proliferating cells, TGF-β and NO were found to mimic bystander effects in cell populations lacking DNA synthesis. These results indicate that cell vulnerability to bystander DSB damage may result from transcription as well as replication. The findings offer insights into which tissues may be vulnerable to bystander genomic destabilization in vivo.

Bystander effect in tumor cells produced by Iodine-125 labeled human lymphocytes

PURPOSE

To investigate the ability of human lymphocytes labeled with DNA-incorporated (125)I to exert an inhibitory (antiproliferative) bystander effect on co-cultured human colon adenocarcinoma LS174T cells in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated to synthesize DNA in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and labeled with 5-[(125)I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine. Human colon adenocarcinoma LS174T cells were co-cultured with the (125)I-labeled lymphocytes in various ratios for 5 days and the proliferation of the LS174T cells was assessed. Further, the supernatant media from these co-cultures were: (i) Transferred to LS174T cells and their proliferation measured after 5 days, (ii) used to assess the clonogenic survival of LS174T cells, and (iii) screened for factors that suppress growth.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in the proliferation of LS174T cells was observed when co-cultured either with (125)I-labeled lymphocytes (56 ± 3.5%) or the supernatant media (52.5 ± 1.3%) obtained from these co-cultures. Clonogenic survival of LS174T cells grown in the supernatant media corroborated the decrease in tumor cell growth.

CONCLUSION

The observed reduction in the proliferation of LS174T cells in presence of (125)I-labeled lymphocytes or media obtained from such co-cultures can be attributed to an inhibitory (antiproliferative) bystander effect, probably mediated by factor(s) released from the dying (125)I-labeled lymphocytes.

Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide in Mediating Chemotherapeutic Drug Induced Bystander Response in Human Cancer Cells Exposed In-Vitro

Background

The intention of cancer chemotherapy is to control the growth of cancer cells using chemical agents. However, the occurrence of second malignancies has raised concerns, leading to re-evaluation of the current strategy in use for chemotherapeutic agents. Although the mechanisms involved in second malignancy remain ambiguous, therapeutic-agent-induced non-DNA targeted effects like bystander response and genomic instability cannot be eliminated completely. Hence, Bleomycin (BLM) and Neocarzinostatin (NCS), chemotherapeutic drugs with a mode of action similar to ionizing radiation, were used to study the mechanism of bystander response in human cancer cells (A549, CCRF-CEM and HL-60) by employing co-culture methodology.

Methods

Bystander effect was quantified using micronucleus (MN) assay and in-situ immunofluorescence(γH2AX assay).The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in mediating the bystander response was explored by pre-treating bystander cells with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and C-PTIO respectively.

Results

Bystander response was observed only in CCRF-CEM and A549 cells (P < 0.001). A significant decrease in this response was observed with ROS scavenger, DMSO.

Conclusion

This significant attenuation in the bystander response on treatment with DMSO, suggests that ROS has a more significant role in mediating the bystander response.Since the possibility of the ROS and NO in mediating these bystander effect was confirmed, mechanistic control of these signaling molecules could either reduce radiation damage and potential carcinogenicity of normal tissues (by reducing bystander signaling) or maximize cell sterilization during chemotherapy (by amplifying bystander responses in tumors).

TGF-β-activated kinase 1 promotes cell cycle arrest and cell survival of X-ray irradiated HeLa cells dependent on p21 induction but independent of NF-κB, p38 MAPK and ERK phosphorylations

Transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) appears to play a role in inhibiting apoptotic death in response to multiple stresses. To assess the role of TAK1 in X-ray induced apoptosis and cell death, we irradiated parental and siRNA-TAK1-knockdown HeLa cells. Changes in gene expression levels with and without TAK1-knockdown were also examined after irradiation to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. After X-ray irradiation, cell death estimated by the colony formation assay increased in the TAK1-knockdown cells. Apoptosis induction, determined by caspase-3 cleavage, suggested that the increased radiosensitivity of the TAK1-knockdown cells could be partially explained by the induction of apoptosis. However, cell cycle analysis revealed that the percentage of irradiated cells in the G(2)/M-phase decreased, and those in the S- and SubG(1)-phases increased due to TAK1 depletion, suggesting that the loss of cell cycle checkpoint regulation may also be involved in the observed increased radiosensitivity. Interestingly, significant differences in the induction of NF-κB, p38 MAPK and ERK phosphorylation, the major downstream molecules of TAK1, were not observed in TAK1 knockdown cells compared to their parental control cells after irradiation. Instead, global gene expression analysis revealed differentially expressed genes after irradiation that bioinformatics analysis suggested are associated with cell cycle regulatory networks. In particular, CDKN1A (coding p21(WAF1)), which plays a central role in the identified network, was up-regulated in control cells but not in TAK1 knockdown cells after X-ray irradiation. Si-RNA knockdown of p21 decreased the percentage of cells in the G(2)/M phase and increased the percentage of cells in the S- and SubG(1)-phases after X-ray irradiation in a similar manner as TAK-1 knockdown. Taken together, these findings suggest that the role of TAK1 in cell death, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis after X irradiation is independent of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and ERK phosphorylation, and dependent, in part, on p21 induction.

Cytochrome-c mediated a bystander response dependent on inducible nitric oxide synthase in irradiated hepatoma cells

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) has important implication in tumour radiotherapy, but the bystander signals are still not well known.

METHODS

The role of cytochrome-c (cyt-c) and free radicals in RIBE on human hepatoma cells HepG2 was investigated by detecting the formation of bystander micronuclei (MN) and the generation of endogenous cyt-c, inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS), NO, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules.

RESULTS

When HepG2 cells were cocultured with an equal number of irradiated HepG2 cells, the yield of MN in the nonirradiated bystander cells was increased in a manner depended on radiation dose and cell coculture time, but it was diminished when the cells were treated with cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of cyt-c release. Meanwhile the CsA treatment inhibited radiation-induced NO but not ROS. Both of the depressed bystander effect and NO generation in the CsA-treated cells were reversed when 5 μM cyt-c was added in the cell coculture medium. But these exogenous cyt-c-mediated overproductions of NO and bystander MN were abolished when the cells were pretreated with s-methylisothiourea sulphate, an iNOS inhibitor.

CONCLUSION

Radiation-induced cyt-c has a profound role in regulating bystander response through an iNOS-triggered NO signal but not ROS in HepG2 cells.

Changing paradigms in radiobiology

The last 25 years have seen a major shift in emphasis in the field of radiobiology from a DNA-centric view of how radiation damage occurs to a much more biological view that appreciates the importance of macro-and micro-environments, hierarchical organization, underlying genetics, evolution, adaptation and signaling at all levels from atoms to ecosystems. The new view incorporates concepts of hormesis, nonlinear systems, bioenergy field theory, uncertainty and homeodynamics. While the mechanisms underlying these effects and responses are still far from clear, it is very apparent that their implications are much wider than the field of radiobiology. This reflection discusses the changing views and considers how they are influencing thought in environmental and medical science and systems biology.

Radiation induced non-targeted response: mechanism and potential clinical implications

Generations of students in radiation biology have been taught that heritable biological effects require direct damage to DNA. Radiation-induced non-targeted/bystander effects represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of the radiobiological effects of ionizing radiation in that extranuclear and extracellular effects may also contribute to the biological consequences of exposure to low doses of radiation. Although radiation induced bystander effects have been well documented in a variety of biological systems, including 3D human tissue samples and whole organisms, the mechanism is not known. There is recent evidence that the NF-κB-dependent gene expression of interleukin 8, interleukin 6, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 33 in directly irradiated cells produced the cytokines and prostaglandin E2 with autocrine/paracrine functions, which further activated signaling pathways and induced NF-κB-dependent gene expression in bystander cells. The observations that heritable DNA alterations can be propagated to cells many generations after radiation exposure and that bystander cells exhibit genomic instability in ways similar to directly hit cells indicate that the low dose radiation response is a complex interplay of various modulating factors. The potential implication of the non-targeted response in radiation induced secondary cancer is discussed. A better understanding of the mechanism of the non-targeted effects will be invaluable to assess its clinical relevance and ways in which the bystander phenomenon can be manipulated to increase therapeutic gain in radiotherapy.

Radiation-induced bystander effects: what are they, and how relevant are they to human radiation exposures?

The term radiation-induced bystander effect is used to describe radiation-induced biological changes that manifest in unirradiated cells remaining within an irradiated cell population. Despite their failure to fit into the framework of classical radiobiology, radiation-induced bystander effects have entered the mainstream and have become established in the radiobiology vocabulary as a bona fide radiation response. However, there is still no consensus on a precise definition of radiation-induced bystander effects, which currently encompasses a number of distinct signal-mediated effects. These effects are classified here into three classes: bystander effects, abscopal effects and cohort effects. In this review, the data have been evaluated to define, where possible, various features specific to radiation-induced bystander effects, including their timing, range, potency and dependence on dose, dose rate, radiation quality and cell type. The weight of evidence supporting these defining features is discussed in the context of bystander experimental systems that closely replicate realistic human exposure scenarios. Whether the manifestation of bystander effects in vivo is intrinsically limited to particular radiation exposure scenarios is considered. The conditions under which radiation-induced bystander effects are induced in vivo will ultimately determine their impact on radiation-induced carcinogenic risk.

Mechanism of protection of bystander cells by exogenous carbon monoxide: impaired response to damage signal of radiation-induced bystander effect

A protective effect of exogenous carbon monoxide (CO), generated by CO releasing molecule ticarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer (CORM-2), on the bystander cells from the toxicity of radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) was revealed in our previous study. In the present work, a possible mechanism of this CO effect was investigated. The results from medium transfer experiments showed that α-particle irradiated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells would release nitric oxide (NO), which was detected with specific NO fluorescence probe, to induce p53 binding protein 1 (BP1) formation in the cell population receiving the medium, and the release peak was found to be at 1h post irradiation. Treating the irradiated or bystander cells separately with CO (CORM-2) demonstrated that CO was effective in the bystander cells but not the irradiated cells. Measurements of NO production and release with a specific NO fluorescence probe also showed that CO treatment did not affect the production and release of NO by irradiated cells. Protection of CO on cells to peroxynitrite, an oxidizing free radical from NO, suggested that CO might protect bystander cells via impaired response of bystander cells to NO, a RIBE signal in our research system.

Emerging role of radiation induced bystander effects: Cell communications and carcinogenesis

Ionizing radiation is an invaluable diagnostic and treatment tool used in various clinical applications. On the other hand, radiation is a known cytotoxic with a potential DNA damaging and carcinogenic effects. However, the biological effects of low and high linear energy transfer (LET) radiations are considerably more complex than previously thought. In the past decade, evidence has mounted for a novel biological phenomenon termed as "bystander effect" (BE), wherein directly irradiated cells transmit damaging signals to non-irradiated cells thereby inducing a response similar to that of irradiated cells. BE can also be induced in various cells irrespective of the type of radiation, and the BE may be more damaging in the longer term than direct radiation exposure. BE is mediated either through gap-junctions or via soluble factors released by irradiated cells. DNA damage response mechanisms represent a vital line of defense against exogenous and endogenous damage caused by radiation and promote two distinct outcomes: survival and the maintenance of genomic stability. The latter is critical for cancer avoidance. Therefore, efforts to understand and modulate the bystander responses will provide new approaches to cancer therapy and prevention. This review overviews the emerging role of BE of low and high LET radiations on the genomic instability of bystander cells and its possible implications for carcinogenesis.