Gamma radiation alters cell cycle and induces apoptosis in p53 mutant E6.1 Jurkat cells

This study aimed at investigating the effect of gamma radiation with 1.5, 3.0 and 7.5 Gy doses on apoptosis induction, cell cycle alteration and increment of amount of p-ATM (phosphorylated ATM) and p-E2F1 (phosphorylated E2F1) proteins in Jurkat T-lymphoblastoid E6.1 cells. Exposure of human p53 mutant Jurkat cells to gamma radiation resulted in apoptosis, which was detected by luminometric and flow cytometric analysis. Also, phosphorylated ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) and E2F1 (elongation factor) proteins were detected by western blot analysis. Based on luminescence detection data the lethal dose of 7.5 Gy induced cell death 12 h after exposure (p<0.05) while sub-lethal doses of 1.5 and 3.0 Gy induced apoptosis 18 h after exposure (p<0.05). Flow cytometric analysis revealed a G2 arrest 24 h after exposure to 3.0 and 7.5 Gy. This arrest was accompanied by cell death with an increasing rate of occurrence up to 72 h after exposure. Western blot analysis showed that 1 h after cell irradiation by 1.5, 3.0 and 7.5 Gy, the amount of p-ATM increased to its maximum rate and remained constant up to 6 h, and then it decreased. Moreover, the amount of phosphorylated E2F1 (Ser-31) increased 2 h after exposure to the same doses and remained constant up to 12 h after irradiation. Survival and cell division of treated Jurkat cells showed a decrease compared to the control group. We believe that ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage activates a p53-independent apoptosis pathway via back-up systems in which the phosphorylation of ATM and E2F1 proteins was involved. Thus, gamma radiation can induce apoptosis and cell cycle alteration in Jurkat cells via a P53-independent pathway. - Highlights: ► Apoptosis initiates in Jurkat cells 12 h after exposure to 7.5 Gy of γ-radiation. ► γ-radiation induces a G2 arrest in Jurkat cells 24 h after exposure to 3 and 7.5 Gy. ► p-ATM protein increases to its maximum level 1 h after exposure to 1.5, 3 and 7.5 Gy.