Gene profiling characteristics of radioadaptive response in AG01522 normal human fibroblasts

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 17;10(4):e0123316. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123316. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Radioadaptive response (RAR) in mammalian cells refers to the phenomenon where a low-dose ionizing irradiation alters the gene expression profiles, and protects the cells from the detrimental effects of a subsequent high dose exposure. Despite the completion of numerous experimental studies on RAR, the underlying mechanism has remained unclear. In this study, we aimed to have a comprehensive investigation on the RAR induced in the AG01522 human fibroblasts first exposed to 5 cGy (priming dose) and then followed by 2 Gy (challenge dose) of X-ray through comparisons to those cells that had only received a single 2 Gy dose. We studied how the priming dose affected the expression of gene transcripts, and to identify transcripts or pathways that were associated with the reduced chromosomal damages (in terms of the number of micronuclei) after application of the challenging dose. Through the mRNA and microRNA microarray analyses, the transcriptome alteration in AG01522 cells was examined, and the significantly altered genes were identified for different irradiation procedures using bioinformatics approaches. We observed that a low-dose X-ray exposure produced an alert, triggering and altering cellular responses to defend against subsequent high dose-induced damages, and accelerating the cell repair process. Moreover, the p53 signaling pathway was found to play critial roles in regulating DNA damage responses at the early stage after application of the challenging dose, particularly in the RAR group. Furthermore, microRNA analyses also revealed that cell communication and intercellular signaling transduction played important roles after low-dose irradiation. We conclude that RAR benefits from the alarm mechanisms triggered by a low-dose priming radation dose.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • DNA Damage / radiation effects
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation, Ionizing*
  • Time Factors
  • Transcriptome / radiation effects*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE59863

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/) under Grant No. 81172602, and “Hundred Talents Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (http://www.cas.cn/ggzy/rcpy/brjh/). Wei Han as grants funder played roles in the study design, decision to publish, and preparation of the manuscript.