Proton irradiation induced reactive oxygen species promote morphological and functional changes in HepG2 cells

Mina Răileanu; Mihai Straticiuc; Decebal-Alexandru Iancu; Radu-Florin Andrei; Mihai Radu; Mihaela Bacalum

doi:10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107919

Proton irradiation induced reactive oxygen species promote morphological and functional changes in HepG2 cells

J Struct Biol. 2022 Dec;214(4):107919. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107919. Epub 2022 Nov 7.

Authors

Mina Răileanu¹, Mihai Straticiuc², Decebal-Alexandru Iancu³, Radu-Florin Andrei⁴, Mihai Radu⁵, Mihaela Bacalum⁶

Affiliations

¹ University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Atomistilor 405, Măgurele, Romania; Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Department of Life and Environmental Physics, Reactorului 30, Măgurele, Romania.
² Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Department of Applied Nuclear Physics, Reactorului 30, Măgurele, Romania.
³ University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Atomistilor 405, Măgurele, Romania; Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Department of Applied Nuclear Physics, Reactorului 30, Măgurele, Romania.
⁴ Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Department of Applied Nuclear Physics, Reactorului 30, Măgurele, Romania; University of POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Splaiul Independentei 313, Romania.
⁵ Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Department of Life and Environmental Physics, Reactorului 30, Măgurele, Romania.
⁶ Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Department of Life and Environmental Physics, Reactorului 30, Măgurele, Romania. Electronic address: bmihaela@nipne.ro.

PMID: 36356881
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107919

Abstract

The increased use of proton therapy has led to the need of better understanding the cellular mechanisms involved. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects induced by the accelerated proton beam in hepatocarcinoma cells. An existing facility in IFIN-HH, a 3 MV Tandetron™ accelerator, was used to irradiate HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells with doses between 0 and 3 Gy. Colony formation was used to assess the influence of radiation on cell long-term replication. Also, the changes induced at the mitochondrial level were shown by increased ROS and ATP levels as well as a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. An increased dose has induced DNA damages and G₂/M cell cycle arrest which leads to caspase 3/7 mediated apoptosis and senescence induction. Finally, the morphological and ultrastructural changes were observed at the membrane level and the nucleus of the irradiated cells. Thus, proton irradiation induces both morphological and functional changes in HepG2 cells.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cell cycle arrest; Hepatocarcinoma; Proton radiation; Reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Hep G2 Cells
Humans
Protons*
Reactive Oxygen Species

Substances

Reactive Oxygen Species
Protons