Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2018, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 249-253,257.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2018.04.001

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Effect of γ-ray on microfilament morphology and cofilin phosphorylation of thymus lymphocytes of mice

QI Xuesong, WANG Chunyan, LI Chen, TONG Peng, SHAO Shuai, QU Gonglin, GOU Qiao, SU Xu   

  1. Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
  • Received:2018-02-22 Revised:2018-03-09 Online:2018-07-30 Published:2018-07-30

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of cofilin for radiation damage via changes of microfilament morphology and cofilin phosphorylation which were induced by γ-ray in thymus lymphocytes of mice. METHODS: 36 mice were grouped randomly according to the time after radiation into control (0 h),3,6,9,12 and 24 h. Thymus lymphocytes were collected at the mentioned time points after exposure to 2 Gy γ-rays. Cofilin 1 in lymphocytes was detected by Western blot to make decision for the suitable time point. 24 mice were grouped randomly according to the dose of γ-ray,including 4 groups of control without radiation (0 Gy),2,6,10 Gy. Three hours after γ-ray exposure,lymphocytes were collected to observe some changes of microfilament morphology and cofilin 1 phosphorylation,including the expression of cofilin 1,p-cofilin,LIMK1,TESK2 and SSH2. RESULTS: mRNA and protein expression of cofilin were down regulated (P < 0.05),the time point of 3 h after γ-ray exposure was the suitable time for collecting thymus lymphocytes to test the expression of cofilin and its related proteins. The results show that expression of cofilin increased with increasing doses of radiation,especially the group of 10 Gy was significantly different (P < 0.05). On the contrary,expression of p-cofilin was reduced,especially the group of 10 Gy was significantly different (P < 0.05). The expression of LIMK1,TESK2 and SSH2 looked similar to controls(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The increased expression of SSH2 caused p-cofilin dephosphorylating at Ser3,indicating the quantity of cofilin 1 increased in cytoplasm to take part in microfilament assembly. As a result,movement ability of the lymphocytes was enhanced.

Key words: γ-ray, thymus lymphocytes, microfilament, cofilin

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