Genomic instability induced by ionizing radiation in human hepatocytes.

The aim of this study was to characterize genomic instability induced by ionizing radiation (IR) in human hepatocytes as reflected by alterations in cloning efficiency, micronucleus (MN) frequency, and apoptosis. The human normal liver 7702 cell line (HL7702) was subjected to initial irradiation of (60)Co-γ ray at doses of 0 (control group), 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 Gy in each group. Progeny of surviving cells from a second irradiation at dose of 2 Gy were cultured for 15 passages until they were transferred.