Proteome analysis of X-ray irradiated human erythroleukemia cells

In order to discover molecular biomarkers in radiation response we investigated the effects of X-radiation on radioresistant K562 cells by using a comparative proteomic analysis. In treated cells 29 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated proteins were detected by image analysis and identified by mass spectrometry. Elongation factor 1 alpha 1 and stress-70 protein showed a 6.2 and 5.4 fold increase respectively in treated cells. Additional proteins such us pi and omega classes glutathione transferases, ATP synthase D chain, were also found to be up-regulated, suggesting that the enzyme belonging to the cellular detoxification system against oxidative stress and energetic metabolism may have a key role in the cellular response to radiation injury. This data set may provide a useful tool to design a combined chemo- and radiotherapic strategy against leukemia disease.