Alterations of DNA Repair and Immune Infiltration in Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury

Area of Science:

• Molecular biology
• Radiation oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• The intestine is highly sensitive to radiation, risking severe complications during abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy.
• High radiation doses (>5 Gy) can cause significant gastrointestinal damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate DNA repair and immune responses in radiation-induced intestinal injury.
• To identify mechanisms for improving radiotherapy efficacy and protecting normal tissues.

Main Methods:

• Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) of RNA sequencing data from irradiated intestinal tissues.
• Analysis of NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 (Nrf2) knockout and wild-type mice.

Main Results:

• Enhanced DNA repair capacity and a suppressed immune response were observed 3.5 days post-irradiation.
• Histone variants and ribosomal proteins were implicated in DNA repair.
• A competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network was constructed, identifying Nrf2-regulated genes (Akr1b8, Gsta3, Nqo1) involved in radiation response.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates molecular mechanisms underlying radiation-induced intestinal injury.
• Findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal damage during radiotherapy.
• This research may improve patient outcomes and well-being in cancer treatment.