title: Basic fibroblast growth factor protects C17.2 cells from radiation-induced injury through ERK1/2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a radiation-induced neural injury model using C17.2 neural stem cells (NSCs) and to investigate whether basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can protect the radiation-induced injury of C17.2 NSCs. Furthermore, we aim to identify the possible mechanisms involved in this model.
  
  
  METHODS
  C17.2 NSCs received a single exposure (3, 6, and 9 Gy, respectively) at a dose rate of 300 cGy/min with a control group receiving 0 Gy. Different concentrations of bFGF were added for 24 h, 5 min postirradiation. The MTS assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Expression of FGFR1, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 proteins was detected with or without U0126 was pretreated prior to C17.2 NSCs receiving irradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C17.2 NSCs showed a dose-dependent cell death as the dose of radiation was increased. Additionally, the rate of apoptosis in the C17.2 NSCs reached 31.2 ± 1.23% in the 6 Gy irradiation group, which was the most significant when compared to the other irradiation treated groups. bFGF showed protective effect on cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The mean percentage of apoptotic cells decreased to 7.83 ± 1.75% when 100 ng/mL bFGF was given. Furthermore, U0126 could block the protective effect of bFGF by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An in vitro cellular model of radiation-induced apoptosis of NSCs, in C17.2 NSCs, was developed successfully. Additionally, bFGF can protect neurons from radiation injury in vitro via the ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Shenzhen University, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: Hai-Hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: An-Ming
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lian-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: En-Xiang
authors.initials: EX
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000528:radiation effects; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2