title: Expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in mouse skin during the acute phase of radiation damage.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta 1) plays a central role in wound healing, so its perturbation by radiation may contribute to the acute and late effects seen in irradiated skin. TGF beta 1 mRNA expression was measured by PCR, in the skin of the CD1 and CBA mouse, exposed to Sr-90 beta from an 11-mm diameter source. TGF beta 1 mRNA expression increased sharply after doses between 1 and 10 Gy and plateaued at approximately 200% above controls after doses between 20 and 50 Gy. Immunohistochemistry showed that the TGF beta 1 protein was confined to the dermis and suprabasal cells with none in basal cells. A dose of 50 Gy produces an acute desquamative reaction in 100% of mice that is resolved in 30 days. After the same dose, TGF beta 1 mRNA expression fell below the controls at 3 h (-9.4% in the CD1 and -44% in the CBA mouse); rose sharply at 6-12 h (+124% CD1, +230% CBA), returned to control levels by 24-48 h, then rose progressively to approximately 200% above the controls between days 7 and 14. TGF beta 1 mRNA expression remained elevated at 100-200% above controls until the end of the experiment at 55 days. The significance of these changes in TGF beta 1 is discussed in the context of the early stress response reaction to radiation, the acute inflammatory and the later chronic fibrosis of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, St Bartholomews Medical College, Charterhouse Square, London, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Coggle
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000235:genetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta