Increased elasticity of melanoma cells after low-LET proton beam due to actin cytoskeleton rearrangements.

Cellular response to non-lethal radiation stress include perturbations in DNA repair, angiogenesis, migration, and adhesion, among others. Low-LET proton beam radiation has been shown to induce somewhat different biological response than photon radiation. For example, we have shown that non-lethal doses of proton beam radiation inhibited migration of cells and that this effect persisted long-term. Here, we have examined cellular elasticity and actin cytoskeleton organization in BLM cutaneous melanoma and Mel270 uveal melanoma cells. Proton beam radiation increased cellular elasticity to a greater extent than X-rays and both types of radiation induced changes in actin cytoskeleton organization. Vimentin level increased in BLM cells after both types of radiation. Our data show that cell elasticity increased substantially after low-LET proton beam and persisted long after radiation. This may have significant consequences for the migratory properties of melanoma cells, as well as for the cell susceptibility to therapy.

Acute hepatologic and nephrologic effects of calcitriol in Syrian golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

Although vitamin D is included in the group of fat-soluble vitamins, it must be considered as a prohormone. Its active forms, including calcitriol, have pleiotropic effects and play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, as well as in hormone secretion, and they demonstrate anti-cancer properties. Since calcitriol delivery can be beneficial for the organism, and Syrian golden hamsters represent a unique experimental model, we decided to investigate its toxicity in this species. In this study, we injected calcitriol intraperitoneally at doses 0 (control), 0.180±0.009 µg/kg and 0.717±0.032 µg/kg. Animal behavior was observed for 72 hrs after injection, and afterwards blood, liver and kidneys were collected for post-mortem examination, electron microscopy, and hematology analyses. The highest dose of calcitriol induced a change in animal behavior from calm to aggressive, and the liver surface showed morphological signs of damage. Following injection of calcitriol, ultrastructural changes were also observed in the liver and kidneys, e.g. vacuolization and increased number of mitochondria. There was also a trend for increased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), but not of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or GGTP (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase). There was no change in Ca, Mg and P levels, as well as in blood morphology between experimental and control groups. These results indicate that calcitriol at 0.717, but not at 0.180 µg/kg, may induce acute damage to the liver and kidneys, without inducing calcemia. We propose that the hepatotoxic effect of calcitriol in hamster constitutes the primary cause of behavioral changes.