Ionizing radiation modulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression through STAT3 signaling pathway in rat neonatal primary astrocyte cultures

Abstract

Abstract Background and Purpose Radiation‐induced brain injury (RBI) usually occurs six months to three years after irradiation, often shows cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy, and other neurological dysfunction. In severe cases, it can cause a wide range of cerebral edema, even herniation. It seriously threatens the survival of patients and their quality of life, and it becomes a key factor in limiting the radiation dose and lowering the therapeutic efficacy in recent years. Therefore, studying the pathogenesis of RBI and exploring new therapeutic targets are of great significance. Methods In our study, we observed the activation and secretory function in astrocytes as well as the intracellular signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signal transduction pathway activation status after exposing different doses of X‐ray irradiation by using MTT, Immunocytologic analysis, and Western blot analysis. Further, we used the same way to explore the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in signal transduction pathways playing in the activation of astrocytes after irradiating through the use of specificInhivascular endothelial growth factorbitors of STAT3. Results Ast can be directly activated, reactive hyperplasia and hypertrophy, the expression of the activation marker glial fibrillary acidic protein is increased, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the cells is increased, which may lead to RBI. After the addition of STAT3 pathway inhibitor, most of the Ast radiation activation was suppressed, and the expression of high‐level expression of VEGF decreased after irradiation. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that X‐ray irradiation directly induced the activation of astrocytes in a persistent manner and X‐ray irradiation activated STAT3 signaling pathway. As the same time, we found that X‐ray irradiation induced the activation of astrocytes and secretion cytokine. The STAT3 signaling pathway may participate in the pathogenesis of radiation‐induced brain injury.

Keywords

• astrocytes
• glial fibrillary acidic protein
• radiation‐induced brain injury
• signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
• vascular endothelial growth factor