Radiosensitivity of C. Parvum-stimulated Spleen to Acute 60Co and Low Dose Rate 137Cs and 252Cf Irradiation

Summary

Stimulation of spleen growth by injection of C. parvum led to rapid organ enlargement, and acute ⁶⁰Co or low dose rate (LDR) ¹³⁷Cs or ²⁵²Cf irradiation reduced the maximum enlargement achieved. Irradiations were carried out 3 days after CP injection. Sigmoid dose–response curves were observed for the fraction of maximum enlargement achieved after acute ⁶⁰Co. After low dose rate ¹³⁷Cs or ²⁵²Cf irradiation, exponential dose-response curves of very different slope were observed. Acute and LDR γ-radiation produced reduced effects in the stimulated and proliferating spleen compared to LDR ²⁵²Cf neutron/γ-irradiation which had relative biological effectiveness = 4·0 versus low dose rate ¹³⁷Cs.     

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

Abstract

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).     

Cell inactivation by combined low dose-rate irradiation and intermittent hypoxia

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate in detail the earlier observed combined effect of low dose-rate β-irradiation delivered at a dose-rate of 15 mGy/h and continued intermittent hypoxia that leads to extensive cell death after approximately 3–6 weeks.

Material and methods: Continuous low dose-rate β-irradiation at a dose rate of 15, 1.5 or 0.6 mGy/h was given by incorporation of [³H]-labelled valine into cellular protein. The cells were cultivated in an atmosphere with 4% O₂ using an INVIVO₂ hypoxia glove box. Clonogenic capacity, cell-cycle distribution and cellular respiration were monitored throughout the experiments.

Results: After 3–6 weeks most cells died in response to the combined treatment, giving a surviving fraction of only 1–2%. However, on continued cultivation a few cells survived and restarted proliferation as the cellular oxygen supply increased with the reduced cell number. Irradiating the T-47D cells grown in an atmosphere with 4% O₂ at dose-rates 10 and 25 times lower than 15 mGy/h did not have a pronounced effect on the clonogenic capacity with surviving fractions of 60–80%.

Conclusions: Treatment of T-47D cells with low dose-rate β-irradiation leads to a specific effect on intermittent hypoxic cells, inactivating more than 98% of the cells in the population. Given improved oxygen conditions, the few surviving cells can restart their proliferation.     

~(125)Ⅰ籽源持续照射对人肺癌细胞凋亡及DNA-PK蛋白表达的影响

目的:探讨~(125)Ⅰ籽源低剂量率持续照射诱导人肺癌细胞凋亡以及对DNA依赖蛋白激酶复合物(DNA-PK)表达的影响。方法:选择A549和NCI-H446两种辐射敏感性不同的人肺癌细胞株,采用9粒~(125)I籽源组成的平面照射装置进行持续照射,吸收剂量为2Gy。应用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡和细胞周期的变化,免疫组化方法检测DNA-PKcs蛋白表达。结果:~(125)Ⅰ籽源照射2Gy后,A549和NCI-H446细胞的凋亡率分别为(11.14±1.11)%和(25.27±5.65)%,分别是对照组的5倍和8倍左右,其中NCI-H446细胞的凋亡率较A549细胞显著升高(P<0.05),显示NCI-H446细胞更敏感。两种细胞的细胞周期均出现明显的G_2/M期阻滞(P<0.05)。A549细胞自身蛋白表达显著高于NCI-H446细胞(P<0.05)。结论:~(125)Ⅰ籽源低剂量率持续照射诱导肺癌细胞凋亡的效果与DNA-PK修复基因的状态和受照射后的变化密切相关。     

Effects of dose rates on radiation-induced replenishment of intestinal stem cells determined by Lgr5 lineage tracing

An understanding of the dynamics of intestinal Lgr5⁺ stem cells is important for elucidating the mechanism of colonic cancer development. We previously established a method for evaluating Lgr5⁺ stem cells by tamoxifen-dependent Lgr5-lineage tracing and showed that high-dose-rate radiation stimulated replenishment of colonic stem cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low-dose-rate radiation on stem cell maintenance. Tamoxifen (4OHT)-injected Lgr5-EGFP-IRES-Cre^ERT2 × ROSA-LSL-LacZ mice were used, LacZ-labeled colonic crypts were enumerated, and the loss of LacZ⁺ crypts under low-dose-rate radiation was estimated. After 4OHT treatment, the number of LacZ-labeled Lgr5⁺ stem cells was higher in the colon of infant mice than in adult mice. The percentage of LacZ-labeled crypts in infant mice rapidly decreased after 4OHT treatment. However, the percentage of labeled crypts plateaued at ∼2% at 4 weeks post-treatment and remained unchanged for up to 7 months. Thus, it will be advantageous to evaluate the long-term effects of low-dose-rate radiation. Next, we determined the percentages of LacZ-labeled crypts irradiated with 1 Gy administered at different dose rates. As reported in our previous study, mice exposed to high-dose-rate radiation (30 Gy/h) showed a marked replenishment (P = 0.04). However, mice exposed to low-dose-rate radiation (0.003 Gy/h) did not exhibit accelerated stem-cell replenishment (P = 0.47). These findings suggest the percentage of labeled crypts can serve as a useful indicator of the effects of dose rate on the stem cell pool.     

Ionizing radiation alters organoid forming potential and replenishment rate in a dose/dose-rate dependent manner

Intestinal organoids are an in vitro cultured tissue model generated from intestinal stem cells, and they contain a mixture of epithelial cell types. We previously established an efficient ‘one cell/well’ sorting method, and defined organoid-forming potential (OFP) as a useful index to evaluate the stemness of individual cells. In this study, we assessed the response to radiation dose and dose-rate by measuring both OFP and the percentage of stem cells in the crypts. After high-dose-rate (HDR, 0.5 Gy/min) irradiation in vivo, the percentage of stem cells in the harvested crypt cells decreased, and the replenishment of cycling stem cells originating from dormant cells was enhanced, but OFP increased in cells irradiated with a total dose of >1 Gy. In contrast, at a total dose of 0.1 Gy the percentage of stem cells reduced slightly, but neither replenishment rate nor OFP changed. Furthermore, the response to 1 Gy of low-dose-rate (LDR) irradiation was similar to the response to 0.1 Gy HDR irradiation. These results suggest that 0.1 Gy HDR irradiation or 1 Gy LDR irradiation does not alter stemness. Additionally, the OFP increase in the colon in response to irradiation was smaller than that in the duodenum, similar to the percentage of stem cells. Understanding the differences in the response of stem cells between the colon and the duodenum to radiation is important to clarify the mechanisms underlying the development of radiation-associated intestinal cancers.     

Adriamycin sensitivity following "ultra" low dose rate irradiation of Lewis lung carcinoma in vivo

As an extension of recent study on the response of the Lewis lung tumor to low dose rate continuous irradiation (CI) at 15 cGy/hr, we have gone on to investigate the effects of such irradiation on the sensitivity of tumor cells to treatment with Adriamycin (Adr). Cells from untreated tumors gave an exponential dose response curve to Adr in vitro, the D10 of which increased (sensitivity decreased) with the size of tumor (0.05 g to 0.6 g) from which the cells were obtained. After previous in vivo CI to a total dose of 28 Gy (irradiation time--186 hr), this size dependence was abolished and the cells showed an exponential response to Adr in vitro (D10 = 0.4 microgram/ml). The enhancement was also observed after equivalent doses of fractionated irradiation, but not after acute irradiation. It was difficult to characterize the proliferative status of the cells surviving irradiation, but repopulation studies showed that only after CI was there any delay before repopulation commenced. LL was relatively insensitive to Adr in vivo, however, we did observe an increased effect after previous CI.     

Relationship of HepG2 cell sensitivity to continuous low dose-rate irradiation with ATM phosphorylation

Objective: To investigate the change of ATM phosphorylation in HepG2 cells and its effect on HepG2 cell survival under a continuous low dose-rate irradiation.Methods: HepG2 cells were exposed to equivalent doses of irradiation delivered at either a continuous low dose-rate (7.76 cGy/h) or a high dose-rate (4500 cGy/h).The ATM phosphorylated proteins and surviving fraction of HepG2 cell after low dose-rate irradiation were compared with that after equivalent doses of high dose-rate irradiation.Results: The phosphorylation of ATM protein was maximal at 0.5 Gy irradiation delivered at either a high dose-rate or a continuous low dose-rate.As the radiation dose increased, the phosphorylation of ATM protein decreased under continuous low dose-rate irradiation.However, the phosphorylation of ATM protein was remained stable under high dose-rate irradiation.When the phosphorylation of ATM protein under continuous low dose-rate irradiation was equal to that under high dose-rate irradiation, there was no significant difference in the surviving fraction of HepG2 cells between two ir-radiation methods (P＞0.05).When the phosphorylation of ATM protein significantly decreased after continuous low dose-rate irradiation compared with that after high dose-rate irradiation, increased amounts of cell killing was found in low dose-rate irradiation (P＜0.01).Conclusion: Continuous low dose-rate irradiation increases HepG2 cells radiosensitivity compared with high dose-rate irradiation.The increased amounts of cell killing following continuous low dose-rate exposures are associated with reduced ATM phosphorylated protein.     

Biological Cell Survival Mapping for Radiofrequency Intracavitary Hyperthermia Combined with Simultaneous High Dose-rate Intracavitary Irradiation

We examined the best way to combine recently developed radiofrequency intracavitary hyperthermia with simultaneous high dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy in an original experimental model. Temperature distribution was measured with an experimental phantom which was immersed in a water bath with the temperature controlled at 37°C. Radiation dose distribution was calculated with a treatment-planning computer. Cell survival was measured by colony assay with HeLa-TG cells in vitro. Radiation dose response at 1-7 Gy and time response with hyperthermia in the range of 40-46°C were estimated. Radiation dose-response curves in simultaneous treatment with hyperthermia for 30 min at 37 to 46°C were estimated and the surviving fractions in combined treatment were plotted against temperature. For intracavitary radiation alone, cell survival rates increased with increasing distance from the source. For intracavitary hyperthermia alone, the maximum temperature was observed at a depth of 13 mm from the surface of the applicator under suitable treatment conditions. Homogeneous cell killing from the surface of the applicator to a tumor depth of 13 mm was observed under a specific treatment condition. Our experimental model is useful for evaluating the best simultaneous combined treatment.