Abstract
An increased risk of carcinogenesis caused by exposure to space radiation during prolonged space travel is a limiting factor for human space exploration. Typically, astronauts are exposed to low fluences of ionizing particles that target only a few cells in a tissue at any one time. The propagation of stressful effects from irradiated to neighboring bystander cells and their transmission to progeny cells would be of importance in estimates of the health risks of exposure to space radiation. With relevance to the risk of carcinogenesis, we investigated, in model C3H 10T½ mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), modulation of the spontaneous frequency of neoplastic transformation in the progeny of bystander MEFs that had been in co-culture 10 population doublings earlier with MEFs exposed to moderate doses of densely ionizing iron ions (1 GeV/nucleon) or sparsely ionizing protons (1 GeV). An increase (P<0.05) in neoplastic transformation frequency, likely mediated by intercellular communication through gap junctions, was observed in the progeny of bystander cells that had been in co-culture with cells irradiated with iron ions, but not with protons.
Highlights
The experience gained from space missions over the past 50 years has highlighted the necessity of humans for the exploration of deep space [1]
Using a model cell culture system to investigate malignant transformation [19], here we show that 1 GeV/nucleon iron ions induce a significant increase in the frequency of spontaneous neoplastic transformation in the progeny of bystander C3H 10TK mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs),when assayed 10 generations after they had been in co-culture with irradiated C3H 10TK MEFs
Using a layered tissue culture system [17], we measured the frequency of spontaneous neoplastic transformation in the progeny of bystander C3H 10TK MEFs that had been in co-culture 10 population doublings earlier with confluent MEFs that were irradiated with energetic iron ions (1 GeV/nucleon)
Summary
The experience gained from space missions over the past 50 years has highlighted the necessity of humans for the exploration of deep space [1]. Using a model cell culture system to investigate malignant transformation [19], here we show that 1 GeV/nucleon iron ions induce a significant increase in the frequency of spontaneous neoplastic transformation in the progeny of bystander C3H 10TK mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs),when assayed 10 generations after they had been in co-culture with irradiated C3H 10TK MEFs. Results and Discussion
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