Cyogenetics effects in AG01522 human primary fibroblasts exposed to low doses of radiations with different quality

AbstractPurpose: Biological effects produced by low doses of ionizing radiations, though relevant for the risk assessment, have not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present work was to evaluate cytogenetic endpoints, as telomere dysfunctions and chromosome instability in the low-dose range as a function of radiation quality. In particular, we analyzed whether the telomere length was modulated, as well as the involvement of telomeres in chromosomal alterations at anaphase, and the yield of stable simple and complex chromosome aberrations.Materials and methods: AG01522 human primary fibroblasts were irradiated with 0.1–1 Gy of X-rays, protons (28.5 keV/μm), and 4He2+ ions (62 keV/μm). Frequency of chromosome bridges carrying or not telomeric signals and telomere length were measured in irradiated samples up to 72 h. Moreover, chromosome instability was measured using multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH).Results: The results evidenced a linear energy transfer (LET)- and dose-dependent r...