Innate lymphoid cells regulate radiation-induced skin damage via CCR10 signaling

Abstract

Objective

To assess the role of CCR10 in innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) response in radiation-induced skin damage.

Material and methods

CCR10^+/− and CCR10^−/− mice were treated with either a single dose of 5 Gy or 5 Gy everyday for 6 days with a total dose of 30 Gy with X-ray. ILCs from the skin were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry 3 and 10 days after irradiation. A mouse model of radio-dermatitis was used to assess the skin damage 10 days after 6 × 5 Gy irradiation.

Results

Skin ILCs were decreased in both CCR10^+/− and CCR10^−/− mice 3 days after single irradiation (p < .05). However, the skin inflammation disappeared and ILCs returned to normal levels 10 days after single irradiation. ILCs of both genotypes were also decreased after 6 × 5 Gy irradiation, but the percentage of skin ILCs in CCR10^−/− mice was lower than that in CCR10^+/− mice 10 days after irradiation. The immunohistochemistry results showed that CCR10^−/− mice had more severe skin inflammation than CCR10^+/− mice.

Conclusion

CCR10^−/− mice had lower percentages of ILCs and more skin damage than CCR10^+/− mice after irradiation. These findings indicate that skin ILCs are regulated by CCR10, which might be a potential target for reducing the radio-dermatitis.

Keywords:

• Radiation-induced dermatitis
• skin damage
• innate lymphoid cells
• CCR10

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution at which the studies were conducted and ethical approval was obtained from Laboratory Animal Ethic Committee of Anhui Medical University (permit number: LLSC20160228).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 31600680, 81673099, and 31800702). The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Notes on contributors

Yiwen Mao

Yiwen Mao, BS, her research field is biological effects of radiation.

Rui Tao

Rui Tao, BS, her research field is biological effects of radiation.

Xiaoping Cao

Xiaoping Cao, BS, her research field is biological effects of radiation.

Qin Bao

Qin Bao, BS, her research field is biological effects of radiation.

Dong Wang

Dong Wang, PhD, is an associate professor of Teaching and Research Section of Nuclear Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.

Ye Zhao

Ye Zhao, PhD, is an associate professor of Teaching and Research Section of Nuclear Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.