From radioresistance to radiosensitivity: In vitro evolution of L5178Y lymphoma.

Purpose: To discuss the possible reasons for the loss of tumourigenicity and the acquisition of new phenotypic features (among them, sensitivity to X and UVC radiations) as a result of in vitro cultivation of L5178Y lymphoma cells.

Results: Ten years ago the phenotypic differences between LY-R (original L5178Y maintained in vivo and examined in vitro) and LY-S lines were reviewed in detail by the author. The loss of tumourigenicity of LY-R cells upon in vitro cultivation accompanying the acquirement of the LY-S phenotype had been described earlier by Beer et al.

Ionizing radiation-induced oxidative stress, epigenetic changes and genomic instability: the pivotal role of mitochondria.

Purpose: To review the data concerning the role of endogenously generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the non-targeted ionizing radiation (IR) effects and in determination of the cell population's fate, both early after exposure and after many generations.

Conclusions: The short-term as well as chronic oxidative stress responses mainly are produced due to ROS generation by the electron transport chain (ETC) of the mitochondria and by the cytoplasmic NADPH oxidases. Whether the induction of the oxidative stress and its consequences occur or are hampered in a single cell largely depends on the interaction between the nucleus and the cellular population of several hundred or thousands of mitochondria that are genetically heterogeneous.

Intraclonal recovery of 'slow clones'-a manifestation of genomic instability: are mitochondria the key to an explanation?

Intraclonal recovery following X-irradiation in an in vitro study of L5178Y-S murine leukaemic cells is reviewed. This phenomenon was first described in 1994 occurring in the slowly growing clones ('slow clones') present among the survivors in irradiated cell populations. An attempt to explain these experimental data is given in terms of the present knowledge of the role of mitochondria in nontargeted radiation effects, with the focus on genomic instability and mtDNA-related epigenetic modifications of the nuclear genome.

Silver nanoparticles -- allies or adversaries?

Nanoparticles (NP) are structures with at least one dimension of less than 100 nanometers (nm) and unique properties. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP), due to their bactericidal action, have found practical applications in medicine, cosmetics, textiles, electronics, and other fields. Nevertheless, their less advantageous properties which make AgNP potentially harmful to public health or the environment should also be taken into consideration.

Cis-9,trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid affects lipid raft composition and sensitizes human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells to X-radiation.

Background: Investigations concerned the mechanism of HT-29 cells radiosensitization by cis-9,trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA), a natural component of human diet with proven antitumor activity.

Methods: The cells were incubated for 24h with 70μM c9,t11-CLA and then X-irradiated. The following methods were used: gas chromatography (incorporation of the CLA isomer), flow cytometry (cell cycle), cloning (survival), Western blotting (protein distribution in membrane fractions), and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (rejoining of DNA double-strand breaks).