Protection against radiation-induced hematopoietic damage in bone marrow by hepatocyte growth factor gene transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether adenovirus-mediated delivery of the human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene could prevent radiation-induced hematopoietic damage.


METHODS
Thirty C57BL/6 mice were randomized into three groups, in which phosphate buffer saline (PBS), mock adenovirus vector (Ad-null) or adenovirus vector containing HGF (Ad-HGF) were injected into the tail vein of each group, respectively. After 48 hours, the mice received a single irradiation dose of 6.5 Gy (60)Co gamma rays. Blood samples were extracted via the tail vein at day 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 24 and 30 after irradiation, for red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) and cluster of differentiation4 (CD4)/cluster of differentiation8 (CD8) ratio assessment. At weekly intervals following irradiation, serum erythropoietin (EPO), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). On post-irradiation day 30, the mice were autopsied and erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) were evaluated.


RESULTS
Adenovirus-mediated HGF gene transfer could increase human HGF level in serum and have a significant elevation in RBC and WBC count. Ad-HGF increased EPO and IL-6 levels and prompted BFU-E formation. Ad-HGF decreased radiation- induced micronucleus frequency in the mouse bone marrow (BM). Most evidence of radiation-induced hematopoietic damage was observed morphologically in bone marrow specimen four weeks after irradiation. Ad-HGF protected against radiation-induced BM failure and increased survival. Finally, Ad-HGF increased the thymic index and enhanced immune function in the irradiated C57BL/6 mice.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report to date that demonstrates the potential of HGF gene transfer to prevent radiation-induced hematopoietic damage.
Department of Experimental Hematology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine , Beijing , P. R. China.
Qingfang
Q
Li
Huiyan
H
Sun
Fengjun
F
Xiao
Xiaojie
X
Wang
Yuefeng
Y
Yang
Yingxia
Y
Liu
Qunwei
Q
Zhang
Chutse
C
Wu
Hua
H
Wang
Li-Sheng
LS
Wang
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor