Expression of genes and pathways associated with the B7-CD28 superfamily in response to irradiation of blood cells using ¹³⁷Cs

Abstract

Purpose

DNA damage is one of the main consequences of exposure to ionizing irradiation (IR). Recent studies indicate that IR can modulate the expression of immune system-related genes. However, the effects of IR on the expression of genes and pathways of the B7-CD28 superfamily remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the modulation of genes and pathways related to the B7-CD28 superfamily in response to IR.

Materials and methods

In this study, we used transcriptome data available from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to investigate the modulation of the response of genes and pathways of samples of human peripheral blood irradiated with doses of 150, 300, and 600 cGy. The data were obtained at 6 and 24 h after irradiation. The relationship between genes and pathways was established through the Reactome database. The behavior of these pathways was analyzed using mathematical methods based on relative activity and diversity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparisons tests (Bonferroni and Tamhanes) was used to identify differentially expressed genes. Data on transcriptomes were analyzed through ViaComplex V.1.0 and IBM SPSS Statistics 22.

Results

For the pathways investigated in this study, we observed that the effects produced by these doses significantly modified the behavior of five pathways associated with the immune system. Also, the dose of 300 cGy might trigger signaling for the activation of T cells through the negative regulation (p < .05) of the co-inhibitory PDCD1LG2 gene. Positive regulation caused by 300 cGy (p < .05) of the CD80 receptor was observed by us, which might be related to a stimulatory signal. According to our findings, this dose induced the production of cytokines and genes that are associated with the activation and differentiation of T cells.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the irradiation modulated the organization of the biological system, suggesting that 300 cGy is more efficient in activating the immune system.

Keywords:

• B7-CD28 superfamily
• irradiation
• immune system
• T cell

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Gene Expression Omnibus at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE58613.

Acknowledgments

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. D. A. Silveira and F. M. Ribeiro acknowledge partial support from CAPES. The authors acknowledge Leonardo de Albernaz Ferreira for computational support.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daner A. Silveira

Daner A. Silveira, B.Sc., is a master’s student at the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.

Fernanda M. Ribeiro

Fernanda M. Ribeiro, B.Sc., is a master’s student at the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.

Éder M. Simão

Éder M. Simão, PhD, is a professor and researcher at the Nanoscience Graduate Program, Franciscan University, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

Viviane L. D. Mattos

Viviane L. D. Mattos, PhD, is a professor and researcher at the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.

Evamberto G. Góes

Evamberto G. Góes, PhD, is a professor and researcher at the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.