High levels of stable p53 protein and the expression of c-myc in cultured human epithelial tissue after cobalt-60 irradiation

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Radiation Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3578705· OSTI ID:6440462

Mothersill, C; Seymour, C B ^[1]; Harney, J; Hennessy, T P ^[2]

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1. Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland)
2. St. James's Hospital, Dublin (Ireland)

When explants of human uroepithelium or esophageal epithelium are exposed to acute doses of radiation (cobalt-60), the cells which grow out to form the primary cultures show a number of abnormal features. These include the development of characteristic nonsenescent foci. These foci have previously been shown to be c-myc positive and to have an abnormal, tumor-like ultrastructure. Expression of c-myc and the level of stable p53 proteins have now been examined in these cultures 2 weeks after irradiation. Both proteins occurred in dividing cells at the growing edge of the explant and in the foci. The expression of c-myc appeared to be correlated with growth. As expected, variation between individual cultures of normal human cells was noted in the expression of stable p53 protein. Most control uroepithelial cell cultures were negative, but a small cohort showed a wide range of values. The control cultures from the esophageal tissues had high expression of p53, and this decreased marginally after irradiation. Cells positive for p53 were always in cycle and were usually positive for c-myc as well. It would appear from these results that the expression of c-myc and the stable form of the p53 protein occur in irradiated primary cultures of normal human cells both in foci which also express a number of abnormalities and in [open quotes]edge[close quotes] cells which are dividing. Cultures of unirradiated cells from esophagus and a small number of uroepithelial samples had high levels of p53. Possible reasons for this are discussed. 33 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6440462
• Journal Information: Radiation Research; (United States), Vol. 137:3; ISSN 0033-7587
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
EPITHELIUM
CELL CULTURES
IRRADIATION
NEOPLASMS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
PROTEINS
MUTATIONS
ACUTE EXPOSURE
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
COBALT 60
ESOPHAGUS
ANIMAL TISSUES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COBALT ISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPES
TISSUES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture
550200 - Biochemistry
550300 - Cytology