Cellular and Molecular Level Responses After Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure, Alone or in Combination with X-rays or Chemicals

The focus of the second years activities has been to establish, for the human 244B human lymphoblastoid cell line, selected biological effects of standard dose rate ionizing radiation over the same low total dose range as to be used for combined microwaveionizing radiation experiments and hyperthermia at the same temperature as will be used in the combined studies. Th endpoints which have been examined, and for which alterations have been observed after either ionizing radiation exposure or heat treatment for different times and temperatures, include cell proliferation and viability, cell cycle distribution, cell surface membrane markers, stress protein synthesis, DNA binding protein induction NF-kB, and proto-oncogene induction. The observation of the two latter endpoints, at low doses, was unexpected. An interaction of ionizing radiation and hyperthermia, reducing stress protein synthesis, was also unexpected. Of the final 10 surface markers examined, 4 have been identified for their potential use in detecting either ionizing radiation or hyperthermia effects.