Effect of terahertz irradiation on DNA damage repair in living cells

Various external and internal factors constantly induce DNA damage, with DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) being the most severe form of damage. DSBs must be repaired rapidly, and failure to repair leads to the development of cancer and other diseases. Here, we show that terahertz (THz) irradiation decreases the amount of DSBs in a frequency-dependent manner. Furthermore, DSBs were increased when samples were heated, indicating that the decrease in DSBs by THz irradiation is a nonthermal effect. The modulation of DNA damage repair by THz irradiation provides a noninvasive method with potential medical applications, such as the prevention and suppression of diseases caused by genomic instability.