Searches for skin injury-related genes induced by ionizing radiation

This review describes investigations concerning the skin and radiation exposure, and molecular effects of radiation on the skin partly based on authors' studies on searches in the title and for signaling cascade. Depending on the dose and its rate, radiation induces injuries like erythema, edema, alopecia, erosion, ulcer and cancer. Comprehensive analysis of the skin injury-related genes is now possible on the human genome chips (DNA micro-array) and on RNA/protein obtained from exposed epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts using such molecular biological means as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern/Western blotting and cyto/histochemistry. Authors have actually revealed that mRNA of ATF3, which regulates the gene transcription, is increased depending on the dose in the exposed human keratinocytes, and ATF3 is accumulated in the nucleus. Authors have also studied the up- and down-streams of signaling cascade of ATF3 to show phosphorylations of p53 and H2AX at exposure to high dose radiation in cells above and in intact mouse. Basic findings in the skin like above can be useful in future for estimation of exposed dose and for risk assessment as well as the present hematological findings. (T.I)