Biphasic Increase of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Mice Lung after Irradiation.

Choi, Yun Jung; Rho, Jin Kyung; Jang, Won Seok; Lee, Seon Joo; Lee, Seung Sook; Koh, Jae Soo; Kim, Jae Yeol; Kim, Hye Ryoun; Kim, Cheol Hyeon; Lee, Jae Cheol

doi:2009.67.1.14

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 67(1); 2009 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2009;67(1):14-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2009.67.1.14 Published online July 1, 2009.

Biphasic Increase of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Mice Lung after Irradiation.

Yun Jung Choi, Jin Kyung Rho, Won Seok Jang, Seon Joo Lee, Seung Sook Lee, Jae Soo Koh, Jae Yeol Kim, Hye Ryoun Kim, Cheol Hyeon Kim, Jae Cheol Lee

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea. jclee@kcch.re.kr
²Department of Laboratory of Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
³Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The pathophysiologic mechanisms of radiation-induced lung injury should be elucidated to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy and to manage patients exposed to serious radiation by accident. It has been suggested that pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in radiation-induced effect on the lung. This study was aimed to investigate changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, MIP-2, IL-1beta and HMGB1, a newly recognized inflammatory mediator. METHODS: The chests of BALB/c mice were selectively irradiated with single fraction of 20 Gy and then sacrificed at indicated times. Pathologic changes in the lung were examined after H&E staining. The expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines was evaluated by ELISA kits in lung homogenate and in serum. RESULTS: Radiation induced inflammatory changes and mild fibrosis in lung. Biphasic increase of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta was found in lung homogenate at 4 hours and at 3 weeks after radiation. The elevation in the second phase tended to be more intense. However, there was no similar change in serum. MIP-2 level was slightly increased in lung homogenate at 4 hours, but not at 3 weeks. HMGB1 was increased at 3 weeks in serum while there was no significant change in lung homogenate. CONCLUSION: Radiation induced a biphasic increase in TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. The effective control of second phase cytokine elevation should contribute to preventing severe lung fibrosis caused by radiation.

Key Words: Radiation, Lung injury, Cytokines