Molecular and Cellular Effects of CT Scans in Human Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells

An open question in radiobiology concerns whether low doses of radiation are harmful or if cells are able to tolerate such exposure with minimal or no disruption. This issue is relevant for evaluating public health risks associated with the increasing number of medical computed tomography (CT) diagnostic procedures. This study evaluated the impact of CT scan-level exposure on human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by measuring DNA damage responses (γH2AX, 53BP1, pATM foci), proliferation (Ki-67), senescence (β-galactosidase), and multiple gene expressions. Responses to one or five CT exposures were compared to a 2 Gy X-ray dose at intervals from 1 h to 10 passages post-irradiation. It was shown that CT scan briefly increased DNA damage markers but showed no significant long-term effects. A high dose of 2 Gy X-ray exposure caused sustained DNA damage, decreased proliferation, increased senescence, and significant changes in hundreds of genes even after several cell generations. After a single CT exposure, gene expression changes were minimal, while high-dose exposure led to strong activation of DNA repair and stress response pathways. Five CT scans caused a slight activation of LIF and HSPA1B genes, but these effects were minor compared to the high-dose group. All detected effects from CT scans were not observed by ten cell passages, whereas high-dose effects persisted. In conclusion, typical CT scan exposures have only short-term, mild effects on hMSCs, while high-dose radiation causes lasting cellular and genetic changes.