A novel role for bone marrow-derived cells to recover damaged keratinocytes from radiation-induced injury

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 11;11(1):5653. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84818-1.

Abstract

Exposure to moderate doses of ionizing radiation (IR), which is sufficient for causing skin injury, can occur during radiation therapy as well as in radiation accidents. Radiation-induced skin injury occasionally recovers, although its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Moderate-dose IR is frequently utilized for bone marrow transplantation in mice; therefore, this mouse model can help understand the mechanism. We had previously reported that bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) migrate to the epidermis-dermis junction in response to IR, although their role remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of BMDCs in radiation-induced skin injury in BMT mice and observed that BMDCs contributed to skin recovery after IR-induced barrier dysfunction. One of the important mechanisms involved the action of CCL17 secreted by BMDCs on irradiated basal cells, leading to accelerated proliferation and recovery of apoptosis caused by IR. Our findings suggest that BMDCs are key players in IR-induced skin injury recovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / radiation effects
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Cell Movement / radiation effects
  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Chemokine CCL17 / metabolism
  • Dermis / pathology
  • Dermis / radiation effects
  • Epidermis / pathology
  • Epidermis / radiation effects
  • Gene Deletion
  • HaCaT Cells
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / pathology*
  • Keratinocytes / radiation effects
  • Macrophages / radiation effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Radiation Injuries / pathology*
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Receptors, CCR4 / deficiency
  • Receptors, CCR4 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin / radiation effects

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL17
  • Receptors, CCR4