Radiation and environmental biophysicsOct 10, 2002

How Low Background Radiation Affects Chemical and Biological Responses in V79 Cells

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Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Cells grown in a reduced radiation environment exhibited a significant increase in density compared to those in a higher radiation setting.

Cell density at confluence was significantly higher in cells grown at the underground laboratory compared to those grown in a standard environment.
Cells in the lower radiation environment demonstrated a greater ability to scavenge organic and inorganic hydroperoxides.
Reduced scavenging capacity towards superoxide anions was observed in cells from the underground facility.
An increase in the basal mutation frequency and sensitivity to gamma-ray-induced mutations was noted in cells from the lower radiation environment.
Apoptotic sensitivity was greater in cells grown at the underground laboratory, though it was not detected after 9 months.

Simplified

We present the results of an experiment aimed at comparing the effects of different background radiation environments on metabolism and responses to gamma-rays and cycloheximide of cultured mammalian cells. Chinese hamster V79 cells were maintained in exponential growth in parallel for up to 9 months at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) and at the INFN-Gran Sasso underground Laboratory (LNGS) where exposure due to gamma-rays and to radon was reduced by factors of about 70 and 25, respectively. After 9 months the cells grown at the LNGS (cumulative gamma dose about 30 microGy, average radon concentration around 5 Bq/m(3)), compared to the cells grown at the ISS (cumulative gamma-ray dose about 2 mGy, average radon concentration around 120 Bq/m(3)), exhibited i). a significant increase of the cell density at confluence, ii). a significantly higher capacity to scavenge organic and inorganic hydroperoxides but a reduced scavenging capacity towards superoxide anions and iii). an increase in both the basal hprt mutation frequency and sensitivity to the mutagenic effect of gamma-rays. The cells grown at the LNGS also showed a greater apoptotic sensitivity starting at the third month of culture, that was no longer detected after 9 months. Overall, these data suggest a role of background ionizing radiation in determining an adaptive response, although they cannot be considered conclusive.

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How Low Background Radiation Affects Chemical and Biological Responses in V79 Cells

Abstract

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