title: Cell cycle perturbations and genotoxic effects in human primary fibroblasts induced by low-energy protons and X/gamma-rays.
abstract: The effect of graded doses of high-linear energy transfer (LET) low-energy protons to induce cycle perturbations and genotoxic damage was investigated in normal human fibroblasts. Furthermore, such effects were compared with those produced by low-LET radiations. HFFF2, human primary fibroblasts were exposed to either protons (LET = 28.5 keV/microm) or X/gamma-rays, and endpoints related to cell cycle kinetics and DNA damage analysed. Following both type of irradiations, unsynchronized cells suffered an inhibition to entry into S-phase for doses of 1-4 Gy and remained arrested in the G(1)-phase for several days. The levels of induction of regulator proteins, such as TP53 and CDKN1A showed a clear LET-dependence. DSB induction and repair as measured by scoring for gamma-H2AX foci indicated that protons, with respect to X-rays, yielded a lower number of DSBs per Gy, which showed a slower kinetics of disappearance. Such result was in agreement with the extent of MN induction in binucleated cells after X-irradiation. No significant differences between the two types of radiations were observed with the clonogenic assay, resulting anyway the slope of gamma-ray curve higher than that the proton one. In conclusion, in normal human primary fibroblasts cell cycle arrest at the G(1)/S transition can be triggered shortly after irradiation and maintained for several hours post-irradiation of both protons and X-rays. DNA damage produced by protons appears less amenable to be repaired and could be transformed in cytogenetic damage in the form of MN.
authors.affiliation: Dip. Di Biologia, Università "Roma Tre", Roma, Italy. antoccia@uniroma3.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antoccia
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgura
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berardinelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavinato
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerardi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tanzarella
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D011522:Protons; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D011522:Protons