Abstract
Purpose: Low-dose radiation has various biological effects such as adaptive responses, low-dose hypersensitivity, as well as beneficial effects. However, little is known about the particular proteins involved in these effects. Here, we sought to identify low-dose radiation-responsive phosphoproteins in normal fibroblast cells.
Materials and methods: We assessed genomic instability and proliferation of fibroblast cells after γ-irradiation by γ-H2AX foci and micronucleus formation analyses and BrdU incorporation assay, respectively. We screened fibroblast cells 8 h after low-dose (0.05 Gy) γ-irradiation using Phospho Explorer Antibody Microarray and validated two differentially expressed phosphoproteins using Western blotting.
Results: Cell proliferation proceeded normally in the absence of genomic instability after low-dose γ-irradiation. Phospho antibody microarray analysis and Western blotting revealed increased expression of two phosphoproteins, phospho-NFκB (Ser536) and phospho-P70S6K (Ser418), 8 h after low-dose radiation.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that low-dose radiation of normal fibroblast cells activates the expression of phospho-NFκB (Ser536) and phospho-P70S6K (Ser418) in the absence of genomic instability. Therefore, these proteins may be involved in DNA damage repair processes.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
Notes on contributors
Ji-Hye Yim is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Department of Low-Dose Radiation Research Team at KHNP Radiation Health Institute.
Jung Mi Yun is a postgraduate researcher at the Department of Low-Dose Radiation Research Team at KHNP Radiation Health Institute.
Ji Young Kim is a General manager at the Department of Low-Dose Radiation Research Team at KHNP Radiation Health Institute.
Seon Young Nam is a team manager at the Department of Low-Dose Radiation Research Team at KHNP Radiation Health Institute.
Cha Soon Kim is a senior researcher at the Department of Radiation Epidemiology Team at KHNP Radiation Health Institute.