The genetic basis of tissue responses to ionizing radiation

The response of mammalian cells to ionizing radiation can be directly influenced by genetics, and mouse strains can be identified that differ in their cellular radiosensitivity. The C57BL/6 radiation resistant and DBA/2 radiation susceptible mouse strains were utilized to aid the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the early response to ionizing radiation. Investigation of the p53 pathway revealed differences in the expression and activity of p53 and its downstream targets between these mouse strains. The radiation resistant C57BL/6 strain showed an early p53 response and preferentially upregulated pro-apoptotic Bax, whereas the radiation sensitive DBA/2 strain exhibited a later, more prolonged p53 response and a greater expression of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21. These two mouse strains also showed significantly different levels of splenic radiation-induced apoptosis, the radiation resistant C57BL/6 scoring twofold more apoptotic cells than its radiation sensitive counterpart. These data provided a quantitative endpoint for an apoptosis genetic linkage analysis. The preliminary results of the linkage analysis indicated that three distinct loci may be involved in driving the different apoptosis phenotypes exhibited by the mouse strains. Moreover, we ascertained whether the mechanisms involved in the response to ionizing radiation may work in a tissue-specific fashion. In the linkage analysis, comparison of apoptosis scores in the colon and small intestine with data from the spleen showed little correlation suggesting that levels of apoptosis are tissue-specific. Tissue-specificity in the colon and small intestine was further illustrated by work with a 2D gel electrophoresis system. This revealed different patterns of p53 phosphorylation between the intestinal tissues both before and after exposure to ionizing radiation. The data discussed here will aid our understanding of the genes and mechanisms involved in radiation responses.