Radio-adaptive response of peripheral blood lymphocytes following bystander effects induced by preirradiated CHO-K1 cells using the micronucleus assay

Background: Radio-adaptive response and bystander effects are known phenomena occurring in cells following exposure to ionizing radiation (IR). In this study we examined possible radio-adaptation of lymphocytes following bystander effects induced by CHO-K1 cells. Materials and Methods: Whole blood and CHO-K1 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 complete medium. Cells were separately irradiated with various doses of gamma rays. A co-culture was set to examine the bystander effects induced by CHO-K1 cells on lymphocytes exposed later to a challenge dose of 4 Gy. Treated cells were exposed to cytochalasin-B to arrest cells in cytokinesis stage. Micronucleus (MN) as end point was scored in binucleate cells after staining in Giemsa. Results: The frequency of MN increased significantly with increasing dose of radiation both in lymphocytes and CHO-K1 cells (p<0.001). Although, no significant difference was observed between control non-irradiated cells and those exposed to 0.2 Gy (p>0.05). Co-culture of the non-irradiated lymphocytes with pre-irradiated CHO-K1 cells significantly reduced the mean frequency of MN in lymphocytes irradiated with a dose of 4Gy (p<0.001). Conclusion: Results showed that bystander effects induced by gamma-irradiated CHO-K1 cells led to induction of radio-adaptive response in lymphocytes. The mechanism by which radio-adaptive response is induced following bystander effect is not clearly known, however cellular signaling and genome instability induced in cells indirectly might be considered as possible triggering events for radio-adaptive response.