Radiation-Induced Delayed Chromosomal Instability

抄録

Ionizing radiation induces chromosomal instability that is transmitted over many generations after irradiation in the progeny of surviving cells. It is suggested that delayed chromosomal instability plays a role in the development of cancers. However, the trigger for inducing the instability remains unknown. To know the trigger, we constructed two types of microcell hybrids by microcell-mediated chromosome transfer where a human chromosome 11 was transferred into a mouse cell line. In one type of microcell hybrids, 4 Gy-irradiated human chromosome 11 was introduced into unirradiated mouse cells, and in the other type of microcell hybrids, unirradiated human chromosome 11 was introduced into 4 Gy-irradiated mouse cells. Chromosome aberrations were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results indicated that not only the irradiated chromosome per se but also the irradiated recipient cells contribute to the trigger for the induction of delayed chromosomal instability by radiation. [J Radiat Res 44:441 (2003)]