title: Phenotype modulation of cellular UV-sensitivity.
abstract: Mammalian cell shape is critically important to cell differentiation, apoptosis, cell division, and growth arrest. In the present study we examined the relationship among cell density, cell phenotype (which include shape and coupling) and cell survival using the human A549, H596 and H520 non-small cell lung carcinoma lines. Thus, cells from monolayers, aggregated and suspended cultures at different densities were exposed to UV-radiation and both the density and the phenotype of the cells induce shifts in cellular growth rate. Except in suspended cultures, we observed a UV-sensitivity closely related to the proliferative status of the cells. The variability of the cellular response to UV were investigated taking into account the shape and the coupling potential of the cell lines, suggesting that an intercellular-contact mechanism provides further protection against UV-radiation damage.
authors.affiliation: South-American Office for Anticancer Drug Development, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwartsmann
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays