Stimulation of Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-like 2 Signaling by Nucleus Targeted Irradiation with Proton Microbeam.
Jun WangMasakazu OikawaTeruaki KonishiPublished in: Biology (2023)
Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2), well-known as a master antioxidative response regulator in mammalian cells, is considered as a potential target for radiation protection and cancer therapy sensitization. We examined the response of NRF2 signaling in normal human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells to nucleus targeted irradiation by 3.4 MeV proton microbeam. Nucleus targeted irradiation stimulated the nucleus accumulation of NRF2 and the expression of its target gene, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). The nucleus accumulation of NRF2 increased from 3 h to 12 h post 500 proton irradiation. In the 500 protons range, higher number of protons resulted in increased NRF2 nucleus accumulation. Activating NRF2 with tert -butylhydroquinone reduced DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation in nucleus targeted irradiation by 15%. Moreover, ATM phosphorylation was found in nucleus targeted irradiation. Inhibiting ATM with ku55933 prevented NRF2 nucleus accumulation. Furthermore, nucleus targeted irradiation activated ERK 1/2, and ROS-ERK 1/2 signaling regulated NRF2 nucleus accumulation. Taken together, NRF2 signaling was activated by nucleus targeted irradiation and mitigated DNA DSB. The discovery of ATM and ERK 1/2 as upstream regulators of NRF2 signaling in nucleus targeted cells revealed new information regarding radiation protection.
Keyphrases
- cancer therapy
- oxidative stress
- nuclear factor
- signaling pathway
- dna damage
- toll like receptor
- drug delivery
- radiation induced
- cell death
- cell proliferation
- risk assessment
- small molecule
- transcription factor
- inflammatory response
- gene expression
- immune response
- radiation therapy
- dna repair
- healthcare
- high throughput
- reactive oxygen species
- poor prognosis
- copy number
- dna damage response
- health information
- human health