Gene expression profiling in non-human primate jejunum, ileum and colon after total-body irradiation: A comparative study of segment-specific molecular and cellular responses

Junying Zheng, Junru Wang, Mylene Pouliot, Simon Authier, Daohong Zhou, David S. Loose, Martin Hauer-Jensen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Although extensive studies have investigated radiation-induced injuries in particular gastrointestinal (GI) segments, a systematic comparison among the different segments on the basis of mode, magnitude and mechanism has not been reported. Here, a comparative study of segment-specific molecular and cellular responses was performed on jejunum, ileum and colon obtained at three time points (4, 7 and 12 days after irradiation) from non-human primate (Rhesus macaque) models exposed to 6.7 Gy or 7.4 Gy total body irradiation (TBI). Results: Pathway analysis on the gene expression profiles identified radiation-induced time-, dose- and segment-dependent activation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) cascade, tight junction, apoptosis, cell cycle control/DNA damage repair and coagulation system signaling. Activation of these signaling pathways suggests that colon sustained the severest mucosal barrier disruption and inflammation, and jejunum the greatest DNA damage, apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction. These more pronounced alterations correlate with the high incidence of macroscopic pathologies that are observed in the colon after TBI. Compared to colon and jejunum, ileum was resistant to radiation injury. In addition to the identification a marked increase of TNFα cascade, this study also identified radiation induced strikingly up-regulated tight junction gene CLDN2 (196-fold after 7.4-Gy TBI), matrix degradation genes such as MMP7 (increased 11- and 41-fold after 6.7-Gy and 7.4-Gy TBI), and anoikis mediated gene EDA2R that mediate mucosal shedding and barrier disruption. Conclusions: This is the first systematic comparative study of the molecular and cellular responses to radiation injury in jejunum, ileum and colon. The strongest activation of TNFα cascades and the striking up-regulation of its down-stream matrix-dissociated genes suggest that TNFα modulation could be a target for mitigating radiation-induced mucosal barrier disruption.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number984
JournalBMC genomics
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 21 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Gastrointestinal injury
  • Total body irradiation
  • Tumor necrosis factor α

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Biotechnology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gene expression profiling in non-human primate jejunum, ileum and colon after total-body irradiation: A comparative study of segment-specific molecular and cellular responses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this