Abstract

BackgroundNon-targeting effects of radiotherapy have become as clinical concern due to secondary tumorigenesis in the patients receiving radiotherapy. Radiotherapy also affects non-tumoral cells present in the tumor microenvironment and surrounding tissues. As such, the irradiated cells are thought to communicate the signals that promote secondary tumorigenesis by affecting the function and fate of non-irradiated cells in the vicinity including endothelial cells. This may include up-regulation of genes in irradiated cells, secretion of paracrine factors and induction of gene expression in surrounding non-irradiated cells, which favor cell survival and secondary tumorigenesis. In the current study, we aimed to investigate whether the conditioned media from X-ray irradiated MCF-7 cells contribute to induction of gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and modulate their angiogenic capability and migration.MethodsFollowing the co-culturing of X-ray irradiated MCF-7 media with HUVECs, the migration and wound healing rate of HUVECs was monitored using Transwell plate and scratch wound healing assay, respectively. The levels of angiogenic protein i.e. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in the conditioned media of MCF-7 cells was measured using ELISA. Additionally, we quantified mRNA levels of VEGFR-2, HSP-70, Ang-2, and Ang-1 genes in HUVECs by real time-PCR. Tubulogenesis capacity of endothelial cells was measured by growth factor reduced Matrigel matrix, whereas expression of CD34 (a marker of angiogenic tip cells) was detected by flow cytometry.ResultsData showed that VEGF-A protein content of conditioned media of irradiated MCF-7 cells was increased (P < 0.05) with increase in dose. Data showed that irradiated conditioned media from MCF-7 cells, when incubated with HUVECs, significantly enhanced the cell migration and wound healing rate of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of VEGFR-2, HSP-70, Ang-2, and Ang-1 were dose-dependently enhanced in HUVECs incubated with irradiated conditioned media (P < 0.05). Importantly, HUVECs treated with irradiated conditioned media showed a marked increase in the tube formation capability as well as in expression of CD34 marker (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that conditioned media from irradiated MCF-7 cells induce angiogenic responses in endothelial cells in vitro, which could be due to transfer of overexpressed VEGF-A and possibly other factors secreted from irradiated MCF-7 cells to endothelial cells, and induction of intrinsic genes (VEGFR-2, HSP-70, Ang-2, and Ang-1) in endothelial cells.2jWTXz4D4cK47Ck7iekukBVideo abstract.Graphical abstract

Highlights

  • Non-targeting effects of radiotherapy have become as clinical concern due to secondary tumorigenesis in the patients receiving radiotherapy

  • Study we aimed to investigate the contribution of conditioned media from X-ray irradiated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells for possible induction of gene expression in nonirradiated endothelia cells (HUVECs), migration and their angiogenic potential

  • These results indicate that conditioned media (CM) of irradiated MCF-7 cells may contain secreted factors, which activate reparative mechanisms of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), in dose dependent manner

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Summary

Introduction

Non-targeting effects of radiotherapy have become as clinical concern due to secondary tumorigenesis in the patients receiving radiotherapy. The irradiated cells are thought to communicate the signals that promote secondary tumorigenesis by affecting the function and fate of non-irradiated cells in the vicinity including endothelial cells. Bystander effects (BEs), a subtype of NTE, implies that radiation may indirectly affect non-irradiated cells within an irradiation volume by secreted molecules to disseminate the biological effects of radiation [8]. In this context, BEs can be mediated through different soluble factors such as growth factors, cytokines, reactive oxygen species [8], as well as extracellular vesicles (EVs) and/ or direct junctions between cells e.g., tunneling nanotubes (TnTs) [9, 10]. The investigation of radiation-induced BEs has been exploited to assess responses of non-irradiated cells to signals from irradiated cells [11, 13]

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