ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of irradiation on the production of IL-8 in lung cancer cell line A549 and explore its possible mechanism.Methods:A549 cells irradiated with different doses of X-rays were used to collect cell supernatant, cellular RNA and protein at different time points after irradiation. The expression level of IL-8 mRNA in A549 cells after irradiation was detected by RT-PCR, which was further validated by real-time quantitative PCR. The expression level of IL-8 in the cell supernatant was quantitatively measured by ELISA. The expression levels of cellular signaling pathway molecules in A549 cells after irradiation were detected by Western Blot. The A549 cells were pretreated with p38 MAPK inhibitor, NF-κB inhibitor and ROS scavenger. The effect of these inhibitors on the expression of IL-8 in A549 cells induced by irradiation was evaluated by ELISA.Results:Irradiation up-regulated the expression of IL-8 in A549 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Irradiation activated the p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway in A549 cells. p38 MAPK and NF-κB inhibitors blocked the induction of IL-8 of A549 cells by irradiation. Inhibition of ROS failed to inhibit the induction of IL-8 of A549 cells by irradiation.Conclusion:Irradiation can increase the production of IL-8 in lung cancer cells A549, possibly through the activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in a ROS-independent pattern.