Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Radiosensitivity of Cancer Stem Cells in Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Published on: August 21, 2019
Increased radiosensitivity and radiation-induced apoptosis in SRC-3 knockout mice
1Institute of Combined Injury, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Abstract:
Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3), a multifunctional transcriptional coactivator, plays an important role in regulation of cell apoptosis in chemoresistant cancer cells. However, its role in radiation-induced apoptosis in hematopoietic cells is still unclear. In this study, we used SRC-3 knockout (SRC-3(-/-)) mice to assess the role of SRC-3 in radiation-induced hematopoietic injury in vivo. After a range of doses of irradiation, SRC-3(-/-) mice exhibited lower counts of peripheral blood cells and bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells and excessive BM depression, which resulted in a significantly higher mortality compared with wildtype mice. Moreover, BM mononuclear cells obtained from SRC-3(-/-) mice showed a remarkable increase in radiation-induced apoptosis. Collectively, our data demonstrate that SRC-3 plays a role in radiation-induced apoptosis of BM hematopoietic cells. Regulation of SRC-3 might influence the radiosensitivity of hematopoietic cells, which highlights a potential therapeutic target for radiation-induced hematopoietic injury.
Insights
Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) deficiency increases radiation-induced apoptosis in hematopoietic cells, leading to higher mortality. This suggests SRC-3 regulates radiosensitivity and may be a therapeutic target for radiation injury.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Hematology
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) is a transcriptional coactivator involved in chemoresistance.
- The role of SRC-3 in radiation-induced apoptosis in hematopoietic cells remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of SRC-3 in radiation-induced hematopoietic injury using SRC-3 knockout mice.
- To determine SRC-3's impact on the radiosensitivity of bone marrow hematopoietic cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized SRC-3 knockout (SRC-3(-/-)) mice and wildtype littermates.
- Administered a range of irradiation doses to assess in vivo hematopoietic injury.
- Quantified peripheral blood cell counts, bone marrow mononuclear cells, and apoptosis rates.
Main Results:
- SRC-3(-/-) mice showed significantly reduced peripheral blood and bone marrow cellularity post-irradiation.
- Bone marrow depression was more severe in SRC-3(-/-) mice, resulting in higher mortality.
- Bone marrow mononuclear cells from SRC-3(-/-) mice exhibited increased radiation-induced apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- SRC-3 plays a critical role in protecting bone marrow hematopoietic cells from radiation-induced apoptosis.
- Modulating SRC-3 expression could impact hematopoietic cell radiosensitivity.
- SRC-3 represents a potential therapeutic target for mitigating radiation-induced hematopoietic injury.
