Biophoton emission leading to bystander effects (BEs) was shown in beta-irradiated cells; however, technical challenges precluded the analysis of the biophoton role in gamma-induced BEs. The present work was to design an experimental approach to determine if, what type, and how many biophotons could be produced in gamma-irradiated cells. Photon emission was measured in HCT116 p53^+/+ cells irradiated with a total dose of 22 mGy from a cesium-137 source at a dose rate of 45 mGy/min. A single-photon detection unit was used and shielded with lead to reduce counts from stray gammas reaching the detector. Higher quantities of photon emissions were observed when the cells in a tissue culture vessel were present and being irradiated compared to a cell-free vessel. Photon emissions were captured at either 340 nm (in the ultraviolet A [UVA] range) or 610 nm. At the same cell density, radiation exposure time, and radiation dose, HCT116 p53^+/+ cells emitted 2.5 times more UVA biophotons than 610-nm biophotons. For the first time, gamma radiation was shown to induce biophoton emissions from biological cells. As cellular emissions of UVA biophotons following beta radiation lead to BEs, the involvement of cellular emissions of the same type of UVA biophotons in gamma radiation-induced BEs is highly likely.

在受β辐射的细胞中显示出导致旁观者效应（BEs）的生物光子发射；然而，技术挑战使得无法分析生物光子在γ诱导的BE中的作用。目前的工作是设计一种实验方法，以确定在伽马射线照射的细胞中是否可以产生，什么类型以及产生多少生物光子。在HCT116 p53 ^{+ / +中}测量了光子发射从铯137源以总剂量22 mGy辐照的细胞，剂量率为45 mGy / min。使用单光子检测单元并用铅屏蔽，以减少从杂散伽玛到达检测器的计数。与无细胞容器相比，当组织培养容器中的细胞存在并受到照射时，观察到更高数量的光子发射。在340 nm（在紫外线A [UVA]范围内）或610 nm处捕获光子发射。在相同的细胞密度，辐射暴露时间和辐射剂量下，HCT116 p53 ^{+ / +}细胞发出的UVA生物光子比610 nm生物光子多2.5倍。首次显示出伽马射线能诱导生物细胞发出生物光子。由于β射线辐射后UVA生物光子的细胞发射导致BE，因此，伽马射线辐射诱发的BEs中涉及相同类型UVA生物光子的细胞发射非常有可能。