Apoptosis of smooth muscle cells induced by radiation

Objective: To study the effects and mechanism of 188Re on apoptosis of cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and to explore the value of radiation induced SMCs apoptosis for preventing restenosis. Methods: The SMCs cultured in vitro were irradiated by 188Re with different doses. The trypan blue exclusion test, flow cytometry, JAM test, transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry assay were used to investigate the effects of β-particles on apoptosis of SMCs, such as cell viability, cell apoptosis rate, DNA fragmentation, cell ultrastructural changes and related gene expression. Results: There were no significant changes of SMCs viability, cell apoptosis rate, DNA fragmentation and cellular ultrastructure in low-dose irradiation group, compared with control group. High-dose radiation (>2.96 GBq/L) on SMCs showed that viable cell proportion was markedly decreased, while cell apoptosis rate and DNA fragmentation were significantly increased, and cellular ultrastructure was destroyed. The expression of p53, bax gene was up regulated and bcl-2/bax was decreased while SMCs apoptosis occurred. Conclusions: Low-dose radiation on SMCs, which could inhibit completely SMCs proliferation, did not show any effects on cell viability, cell apoptosis rate, cell ultrastructure and DNA fragmentation. High-dose radiation could result in significant SMCs apoptosis. Up-regulated p53, bcl-2 and bax gene took a part in cell apoptosis induced by radiation. Low-dose and low-dose rate radiation appeared to be an ideal intravascular radiotherapy for preventing restenosis, which could not only inhibit SMCs proliferation, but also preserve cell viability and integrity