Slowed growth of cultured fibroblasts from human radiation wounds.

To study radiation effect separate from the microcirculation, fibroblasts were cultured from four patients with radiation wounds. Cells could be grown from irradiated tissue near the ulcer and from control normal tissue, but no cells could be cultured from the ulcers. The ability of radiation-treated fibroblasts to attach to the substrate and form colonies was less than that of unirradiated cells. Irradiated skin fibroblasts from the four patients had significantly longer mean generation times than did control cells. During log-phase growth (1 to 9 days), the population doublings of damaged cells were significantly reduced compared to colonies from normal cells. These data suggest a permanent intrinsic radiation effect on fibroblasts or a selective ablation of faster-growing fibroblast subpopulations that is not dependent on decreased blood supply.