The adaptive response of human lymphocytes to very low doses of ionizing radiation: a case of induced chromosomal repair with the induction of specific proteins

It appears that the adaptive response of human lymphocytes to low doses of X-rays can be mimicked by exposure to low levels of a truly radiomimetic compound, bleomycin, that induces double-strand breaks in DNA. Similarly, the adaptive response can be induced by exposure to low levels of H2O2, which produces reactive species similar to those induced by ionizing radiation. This adaptive response, which is attributed to the induction of a repair mechanism, i.e. repair enzymes, can be prevented if protein synthesis, and thus enzyme synthesis, is inhibited by cycloheximide at the crucial time (4-6 h) after exposure to the adaptive dose. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis has shown that 1 cGy of X-rays can reproducibly induce several proteins not found in unirradiated lymphocytes. These proteins are considered to be excellent candidates for the actual repair enzyme(s). (author)