Study on the mechanism of cytogenetic adaptive response induced by low dose radiation

Pre-exposure of human lymphocytes to low dose radiation (D1) could induce a cytogenetic adaptive response expressed as a decrease of chromatid aberrations caused by subsequent large dose radiation (D2). There are two possible explanations for its mechanism, i.e., activation of enzymatic processes by D1 facilitating repair of chromosomal damage and induction of protective proteins by D1 reducing the number of chromosomal aberrations. The results here showed: (1) the cytogenetic adaptive response could be enhanced by hyperthermia (41 degrees C and 43 degrees C) and suppressed by hypothermia (4 degrees C); (2) hyperthermia (41 degrees C) alone could also induce the cytogenetic adaptive response; (3) the cytogenetic adaptive response could be inhibited by cycloheximide--an inhibitor of protein synthesis; (4) supernatant from cultured lymphocytes treated with D1 failed to show the protective effect. The results imply that the cytogenetic adaptive response is not only related to the activation of repair enzymes, but also to the induction of protective proteins.