title: The Influence of Radiotherapy on AIM2 Inflammasome in Radiation Pneumonitis.
abstract: This study aims to investigate the influence of radiotherapy on absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome in radiation pneumonitis (RP). A rat model of RP was established. H&E staining was used to test radiation-induced lung tissue injury. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of AIM2 and IL-1β in rat lung tissues. Milliplex assay was used to test cytokine levels in rat serum. Comet assay was adopted to examine DNA breaks in THP1 cells. RT-PCR was used to detect the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of AIM2, caspase-1, and IL-1β in THP1 cells. As a result, the rat model indicated that irradiation induced obvious lung injury. A large amount of inflammatory cells infiltrated to the irradiated lung tissues. The structure of lung tissues collapsed. IHC revealed that AIM2 and IL-1β expressions were significantly higher in irradiated lung tissues than in the control. IL-1β level in rat serum significantly elevated on the 7th day post-irradiation, gradually decreased on the 15th day, and became minimal on the 30th day. Irradiation induced dsDNA break in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h after irradiation. Radiotherapy increased the mRNA expression level of AIM2 and IL-1β in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, radiotherapy triggered some critical components of AIM2 inflammasome in RP. The activation of AIM2 inflammasome by radiotherapy may contribute to the pathogenesis of RP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology I, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Qianyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology I, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Qinyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology I, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology I, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology I, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China. qibinsong@163.com.
authors.forename: Qibin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D055370:Lung Injury; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C540422:Aim2 protein, mouse; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D053583:Interleukin-1beta
keywords: AIM2; inflammasome; radiation pneumonitis (RP); radiotherapy