Treatment of radiation-induced intestinal mucosal injury with keratinocyte growth factor 2 mutant in mice

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of KGF-2 mutants on radiation-induced intestinal mucosal injury. Methods: Specific pathogen free (SPF) female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were treated with/without KGF2 mutant and/or bone marrow cell transplantation. All the 4 groups were radiated with one-time whole body γ-ray exposure of 12 Gy. Also one untreated group was included as control. The therapeutic effect of recombinant human KGF-2 mutants on radiation-induced intestinal mucosal injury was analyzed by the survival rate at the 30th day, the pathological change and the apoptosis as well as autophagy status of small intestine at 72 hours after exposure. Results: After irradiation, all the mice in the untreated group died within 9 days while the mice treated with KGF-2 mutant combined with bone marrow cell transplantation showed a 70% survival rate at the 30th day. We also found that intestinal mucosa of the mice in this group had a more intact structure, a higher level of autophagy and a lower level of apoptosis via HE staining and immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: KGF-2 mutant has a significant therapeutic effect on radiation-induced intestinal mucosal injury. (authors)