Bystander effect mediated by nitric oxide depends on irradiation dose but not on radiation quality

Yokota, Yuichiro; Funayama, Tomoo; Ikeda, Hiroko; Sakashita, Tetsuya; Suzuki, Michiyo; Kobayashi, Yasuhiko

We investigated the bystander effect induced by -rays or carbon ions and analyzed the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the effect. Normal human fibroblasts were used. Cells inoculated on a porous membrane were irradiated with varying doses of -rays or carbon ions. Irradiated cells were then non-contact co-cultured with non-irradiated cells for 24 h. After co-culture, the survival rates of non-irradiated bystander cells co-cultured with irradiated cells decreased with increasing dose and bottomed out at 0.5 Gy or higher doses. This indicates that the bystander effect is dependent on irradiation dose but independent of radiation quality. Next, a specific NO scavenger c-PTIO was added to the culture medium during irradiation and co-culture. This treatment prevented the reduction in survival rates of bystander cells, clearly indicating that NO has an important role in the bystander effect.