Stimulation of intercellular induction of apoptosis in transformed cells at very low doses of ionising radiation: spatial and temporal features.

The ultimate response of a cell or tissue to radiation is dependent in part on intercellular signalling. This becomes increasingly important at low doses, or at low dose rates, associated with typical human exposures. In order to help characterise the underlying mechanism of intercellular signalling, and how they are perturbed following exposure to ionising radiation, a previously well-defined model system of intercellular induction of apoptosis (IIA) (Portess et al. 2007, Cancer Res. 67, 1246-1253) was adopted. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the signalling mechanisms underpinning this process through exploring the variables that can affect the IIA, i.e. dose, time and space.