Resveratrol affects X-ray induced apoptosis and cell cycle delay in human cells in vitro

Many studies in human and mammalian cells have shown the involvement of resveratrol in the modulation of several biological processes, including the regulation of carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its antitumorigenic activity are still not defined. There is great interest in developing new agents that can modify the efficacy of radiation therapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cellular response to treatments with X rays and resveratrol, alone or in combination, in terms of DNA damage, cell cycle delays and induction of apoptosis. Lymphoblastoid cells AHH-1 were treated and analysed at successive sampling times in order to study the induction of DNA breaks using the Comet assay and the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle modulation through cytofluorimetric analysis. Our results suggest that resveratrol causes the induction of apoptosis and a block of cell cycle progression at an early step of S-phase. Furthermore, resveratrol mitigates the apoptotic clearance of irradiated cells and prevents the G2 phase cell cycle arrest induced by X-rays.