Delayed activation of human microglial cells by high dose ionizing radiation

作者：Chen Hongxin; Chong Zhao Zhong; De Toledo Sonia M; Azzam Edouard I; Elkabes Stella; Souayah Nizar^*

来源：Brain Research, 2016, 1646: 193-198.

DOI：10.1016/j.brainres.2016.06.002

• Microglia
• Radiation
• Inflammation
• Cell death
• Brain

Recent studies have shown that microglia affects the fate of neural stem cells in response to ionizing radiation, which suggests a role for microglia in radiation-induced degenerative outcomes. We therefore investigated the effects of gamma-irradiation on cell survival, proliferation, and activation of microglia and explored associated mechanisms. Specifically, we evaluated cellular and molecular changes associated with exposure of human microglial cells (CHME5) to low and high doses of acute cesium-137 gamma rays. Twenty-four hours after irradiation, cell cycle analyses revealed dose-dependent decreases in the fraction of cells in S and G2/M phase, which correlated with significant oxidative stress. By one week after irradiation, 20-30% of the cells exposed to high doses of gamma rays underwent apoptosis, which correlated with significant concomitant decrease in metabolic activity as assessed by the MIT assay, and microglial activation as judged by both morphological changes and increased expression of Glut-5 and CR43. These changes were associated with increases in the mRNA levels for IL-1 alpha, IL-10 and TNF alpha. Together, the results show that human CHME5 microglia are relatively resistant to low and moderate doses of gamma rays, but are sensitive to acute high doses, and that CHME5 cells are a useful tool for in vitro study of human microglia.

• 出版日期2016-9-1