The Expression of Connexin 26 Regulates the Radiosensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Signal Pathway
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Published:2022-11-24
Issue:23
Volume:23
Page:14644
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ISSN:1422-0067
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Container-title:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:IJMS
Author:
Li Yuan,
Yang Li,
Tao Rui,
Shang Yajing,
Sun Minqiong,
Peng Shichao,
Zhao Guoping,
Zhao YeORCID
Abstract
Connexin 26 (Cx26) is a protein that constitutes a gap junction and is widely expressed in the liver. Abnormal expression of Cx26 is one of the important mechanisms of liver cancer, and is closely related to the transmission of radiation damage signals between cells. In the present study, we investigated the radiosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells HepG2, with low expression of Cx26, and SK-hep-1, with high expression of Cx26 after X-ray irradiation. The cell survival, micronucleus formation and protein expressions of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway were detected. The expression level of Cx26 could affect the radiosensitivity of liver cancer cells by affecting the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK proteins and regulating the expression of downstream NF-κB. Cell lines with knock-out and overexpression of Cx26 were also built to confirm the findings. Our results suggested that Cx26 might play an important role in the radiosensitivity of liver cancer and could be a potential target for clinical radiotherapy of liver cancer.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University
Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province
Provincial Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Colleges
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis