The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is implicated in the premature senescence of primary human endothelial cells exposed to chronic radiation

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 1;8(8):e70024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070024. Print 2013.

Abstract

The etiology of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) after chronic exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation is only marginally understood. We have previously shown that a chronic low-dose rate exposure (4.1 mGy/h) causes human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to prematurely senesce. We now show that a dose rate of 2.4 mGy/h is also able to trigger premature senescence in HUVECs, primarily indicated by a loss of growth potential and the appearance of the senescence-associated markers ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) and p21. In contrast, a lower dose rate of 1.4 mGy/h was not sufficient to inhibit cellular growth or increase SA-ß-gal-staining despite an increased expression of p21. We used reverse phase protein arrays and triplex Isotope Coded Protein Labeling with LC-ESI-MS/MS to study the proteomic changes associated with chronic radiation-induced senescence. Both technologies identified inactivation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway accompanying premature senescence. In addition, expression of proteins involved in cytoskeletal structure and EIF2 signaling was reduced. Age-related diseases such as CVD have been previously associated with increased endothelial cell senescence. We postulate that a similar endothelial aging may contribute to the increased rate of CVD seen in populations chronically exposed to low-dose-rate radiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Cellular Senescence / radiation effects*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / radiation effects*
  • Humans
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proteomics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the European Community's Seventh Framework Program (EURATOM) contract number 249689 (DoReMi) and Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.