Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy for the Quantitative Assessment of Acute Ionizing Radiation Induced Skin Toxicity Using a Mouse Model
Published on: May 27, 2016
In vitro analysis of radiation-induced dermal wounds
Ulrich Reinhart Goessler1, Peter Bugert, Stefan Kassner
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ruprecht Karls-University Heidelberg, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. ugoessler@web.de
Objective:
To investigate the pathophysiology of radiation-induced wounds of the head and neck at a molecular level.
Study Design:
Basic science, prospective study.
Setting:
The study was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ruprecht Karls-University Heidelberg, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
Subjects And Methods:
Keratinocytes from chronic nonhealing ulcers in irradiated areas as well as from healthy skin areas in the same patients (n = 3) were harvested during surgical procedures and isolated in cell culture. First, a proliferation assay was performed. Gene expression was analyzed by microarray, protein expression by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Keratinocytes from radiogenic wounds showed a shift from the high molecular keratins 1 and 10 to the low molecular keratins 5 and 14 compared to normal control skin. Keratinocytes from nonhealing wounds showed a decreased expression of transforming growth factor alpha and beta 1, fibroblast growth factor 1 and 2, keratinocyte growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor. The matrix metalloproteinases 2, 12, and 13 showed increased expression in irradiated keratinocytes and fibroblasts.
Conclusion:
Our data showed a change of keratinocytes to a less differentiated state due to radiation. Additionally, it seems that radiation-induced dermal injuries often fail to heal because of decreased proliferation, impaired angiogenesis, and persistently high concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases.