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Radiosensitivities of Ten Apparently Normal Human Diploid Fibroblast Strains to Cell Killing, G₂-Phase Chromosomal Aberrations, and Cell Cycle Delay¹

Department of Cancer Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

We have examined the sensitivity to X-irradiation of ten apparently normal human fibroblast cell strains received as coded samples. Three different end points were examined: cytotoxicity; induction of chromosomal aberrations after irradiation in G₂; and G₁-phase block after irradiation and release from confluent growth. Three of these ten strains showed a moderate degree of hypersensitivity to X-rays by all three assays, falling within the range previously reported for ataxia telangiectasia heterozygotes. This variability in the "normal" response may render difficult the use of these techniques in the detection of gene carriers for such disorders in the general population. Furthermore, it indicates that care should be taken in the selection of reference control strains in studies of the sensitivity of cells from various genetic disorders to radiation.

¹ Supported by Research Grant CA-47542 and Center Grant ES-00002 from the NIH.

Received 2/10/88. Revised 5/ 6/88. Accepted 5/18/88.