title: Activation of MAP kinases during progression of radiation-induced pneumonitis in rats.
abstract: Radiation-induced pneumonitis is closely associated with the interplay of various stress-activated signals and immune responses related to the progression of lung injury. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways play critical roles in the progression of inflammation via a cellular damage. Here, we examined the regional distribution of phosphorylated MAP kinases (p-JNK, p-ERK, and p-p38) in the progression of pneumonitis after exposure of a single dose irradiation with 10 Gy for 0, 4, and 8 weeks in rats. Also, we identified positive cells for these kinases using specific cell-type markers related to inflammation and type II pneumocyte. p-JNK was present abundantly in activated macrophages, CD8(+)T-cells, peribronchiolar smooth muscle cells, and weakly type II pneumocytes at 4 weeks or 8 weeks after irradiation. p-p38 and p-ERK was predominantly expressed in macrophages, CD4(+) T-cells, fibrotic cells as well as present in various lung parenchymal cells including alveolar epithelial cells and type II pneumocytes. In conclusion, it is considered that MAP kinase pathways play a pivotal role in early damage of residual cells as well as in the long-term regulation of distinct inflammatory cells during the progression of radiation-induced pneumonitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 305-764, Korea.
authors.forename: Si-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Sun-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Jae-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Tae-Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cheol-Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyu-Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sang-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000528:radiation effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4