Genotoxic Damage in Non-irradiated Cells: Contribution from the Bystander Effect

It has always been accepted dogma that the deleterious effects of ionising radiation such as mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are due mainly to direct damage to DNA. Using the Columbia University charged-particle microbeam and the highly sensitive AL cell mutagenic assay, it is shown here that non-irr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiation protection dosimetry 2002-01, Vol.99 (1-4), p.227-232
Main Authors: Zhou, H., Randers-Pherson, G., Suzuki, M., A. Waldren, C., K. Hei (INVITED), T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpha Particles
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Bystander Effect - radiation effects
CD59 Antigens - genetics
CD59 Antigens - radiation effects
Cell Survival - radiation effects
CHO Cells
Cricetinae
DNA Damage - radiation effects
Humans
Hybrid Cells - cytology
Hybrid Cells - radiation effects
Medical sciences
Mutagenesis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Summary:It has always been accepted dogma that the deleterious effects of ionising radiation such as mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are due mainly to direct damage to DNA. Using the Columbia University charged-particle microbeam and the highly sensitive AL cell mutagenic assay, it is shown here that non-irradiated cells acquire the mutagenic phenotype through direct contact with cells whose nuclei are traversed with 2 alpha particles each. Pre-treatment of cells with lindane, a gap junction inhibitor, significantly decreased the mutant yield. Furthermore, when irradiated cells were mixed with control cells in a similar ration as the in situ studies, no enhancement in bystander mutagenesis was detected. Our studies provide clear evidence that genotoxic damage can be induced in non-irradiated cells, and that gap junction mediated cell-cell communication plays a critical role in the bystander phenomenon.
ISSN:0144-8420
1742-3406
DOI:10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a006769