Gamma knife irradiation increases cerebral endothelial expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and E-selectin

Alterations in multiple functions of the microvasculature occur in response to gamma irradiation and are thought to contribute to radiation-induced end organ damage by inducing inflammatory responses, particularly leukocyte infiltration into the affected area. Endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ECAMs) mediate leukocyte adhesion and migration. Here, we validate a method to study the effect of Leksell gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery on the expression of ECAMs on human cerebral endothelium at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after irradiation.

A human brain endothelial cell line (IHEC) was cultured on 12-mm coverslips and subjected to 50 Gy of collimated gamma irradiation with the Leksell gamma knife (Elekta Instruments, Inc., Atlanta, GA). Lactate dehydrogenase release was measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours after irradiation and caspase-3 at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. ECAM expression was measured at postirradiation intervals of 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours by cell enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. We used a cell irradiator composed of two chambers. The upper chamber holds the coverslips firmly in place while they are immersed in media. The lower chamber is connected to a peristaltic pump, which pumps water into the chamber and maintains the media in the upper chamber at 37 degrees C through convection.

None of the ECAMs tested was significantly elevated compared with the control basally. Twenty-four hours after irradiation, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 was significantly elevated on brain endothelial cells but there was no significant elevation of E-selectin. Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 was increased slightly but not significantly and decreased at 48 hours. At 72 hours, E-selectin expression was significantly increased; intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 were not altered relative to sham controls.

Increased ECAM expression and lactate dehydrogenase release support the idea that the cerebral microvasculature undergoes an inflammatory response after Leksell gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery.