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Yu Z, Xu C, Song B, Zhang S, Chen C, Li C, Zhang S. Tissue fibrosis induced by radiotherapy: current understanding of the molecular mechanisms, diagnosis and therapeutic advances. J Transl Med 2023; 21:708. [PMID: 37814303 PMCID: PMC10563272 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04554-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death around the world. In cancer treatment, over 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy alone or in multimodal combinations with other therapies. One of the adverse consequences after radiation exposure is the occurrence of radiation-induced tissue fibrosis (RIF), which is characterized by the abnormal activation of myofibroblasts and the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. This phenotype can manifest in multiple organs, such as lung, skin, liver and kidney. In-depth studies on the mechanisms of radiation-induced fibrosis have shown that a variety of extracellular signals such as immune cells and abnormal release of cytokines, and intracellular signals such as cGAS/STING, oxidative stress response, metabolic reprogramming and proteasome pathway activation are involved in the activation of myofibroblasts. Tissue fibrosis is extremely harmful to patients' health and requires early diagnosis. In addition to traditional serum markers, histologic and imaging tests, the diagnostic potential of nuclear medicine techniques is emerging. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies are the traditional treatments for radiation-induced fibrosis. Recently, some promising therapeutic strategies have emerged, such as stem cell therapy and targeted therapies. However, incomplete knowledge of the mechanisms hinders the treatment of this disease. Here, we also highlight the potential mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic directions of radiation-induced fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuxiang Yu
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chaoyu Xu
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bin Song
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Medical Transformation (Mianyang Central Hospital), Mianyang, 621099, China
| | - Shihao Zhang
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chong Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Xuzhou, Xuzhou Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221200, China
| | - Changlong Li
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Shuyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Medical Transformation (Mianyang Central Hospital), Mianyang, 621099, China.
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Chen X, Qin W, Wang L, Jin Y, Tu J, Yuan X. Autophagy gene Atg7 regulates the development of radiation-induced skin injury and fibrosis of skin. Skin Res Technol 2023; 29:e13337. [PMID: 37357660 PMCID: PMC10230157 DOI: 10.1111/srt.13337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiation-induced skin injury, which may progress to fibrosis, is a severe side effect of radiotherapy in patients with cancer. However, currently, there is a lack of preventive or curative treatments for this injury. Meanwhile, the mechanisms underlying this injury remain poorly understood. Here, we elucidated whether autophagy is essential for the development of radiation-induced skin injury and the potential molecular pathways and mechanisms involved. METHODS AND RESULTS We used the myofibroblast-specific Atg7 knockout (namely, conditional Atg7 knockout) mice irradiated with a single electron beam irradiation dose of 30 Gy. Vaseline-based 0.2% rapamycin ointment was topically applied once daily from the day of irradiation for 30 days. On day 30 post irradiation, skin tissues were harvested for further analysis. In vitro, human foreskin fibroblast cells were treated with rapamycin (100 nM) for 24 h and pretreated with 3-MA (5 mM) for 12 h. Macroscopic skin manifestations, histological changes, and fibrosis markers at the mRNA and protein expression levels were measured. Post irradiation, the myofibroblast-specific autophagy-deficient (Atg7Flox/Flox Cre+ ) mice had increased fibrosis marker (COL1A1, CTGF, TGF-β1, and α-SMA) levels in the irradiated area and had more severe macroscopic skin manifestations than the control group (Atg7Flox/Flox Cre- ) mice. Treatment with an autophagy agonist rapamycin attenuated macroscopic skin injury scores and skin fibrosis marker levels with decreased epidermal thickness and dermal collagen deposition in Atg7Flox/Flox Cre+ mice compared with the vehicle control. Moreover, in vitro experiment results were consistent with the in vivo results. Together with studies at the molecular level, we found that these changes involved the Akt/mTOR pathway. In addition, this phenomenon might also relate to Nrf2-autophagy signaling pathway under oxidative stress conditions. CONCLUSION In conclusion, Atg7 and autophagy-related mechanisms confer radioprotection, and reactivation of the autophagy process can be a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce and prevent the occurrence of radiodermatitis, particularly skin fibrosis, in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Chen
- Department of OncologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Wan Qin
- Department of OncologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of OncologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Yu Jin
- Department of OncologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Jingyao Tu
- Department of OncologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Xianglin Yuan
- Department of OncologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubeiChina
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Yang Q, Qin B, Hou W, Qin H, Yin F. Pathogenesis and therapy of radiation enteritis with gut microbiota. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1116558. [PMID: 37063268 PMCID: PMC10102376 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1116558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is widely used in clinic due to its good effect for cancer treatment. But radiotherapy of malignant tumors in the abdomen and pelvis is easy to cause radiation enteritis complications. Gastrointestinal tract contains numerous microbes, most of which are mutualistic relationship with the host. Abdominal radiation results in gut microbiota dysbiosis. Microbial therapy can directly target gut microbiota to reverse microbiota dysbiosis, hence relieving intestinal inflammation. In this review, we mainly summarized pathogenesis and novel therapy of the radiation-induced intestinal injury with gut microbiota dysbiosis and envision the opportunities and challenges of radiation enteritis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilin Yang
- Research Institute of Intestinal Diseases, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bingzhi Qin
- Research Institute of Intestinal Diseases, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiliang Hou
- Research Institute of Intestinal Diseases, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Weiliang Hou, ; Huanlong Qin, ; Fang Yin,
| | - Huanlong Qin
- Research Institute of Intestinal Diseases, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Weiliang Hou, ; Huanlong Qin, ; Fang Yin,
| | - Fang Yin
- Research Institute of Intestinal Diseases, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Weiliang Hou, ; Huanlong Qin, ; Fang Yin,
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Cheng H, Chen L, Huang M, Hou J, Chen Z, Yang X. Hunting down NLRP3 inflammasome: An executioner of radiation-induced injury. Front Immunol 2022; 13:967989. [PMID: 36353625 PMCID: PMC9637992 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.967989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is one of the mainstream treatment modalities for several malignancies. However, radiation-induced injury to surrounding normal tissues limits its efficacy. The NLRP3 inflammasome is an essential mechanism of innate immunity that reacts to challenges from endogenous danger signals and pathological microbes. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated a key role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced tissue injury. Despite accumulating evidence, the potential value of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the management of radiation-induced tissue injury is not adequately recognized. We conducted a literature review to characterize the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and radiation injury. By analyzing recent evidence, we identify NLRP3 inflammasome as one of the executioners of radiation-induced injury, since it responds to the challenges of radiation, induces cell pyroptosis and tissue dysfunction, and initiates non-resolving inflammation and fibrosis. Based on these concepts, we propose early intervention/prevention strategies targeting NLRP3 inflammasome in a radiation context, which may help resolve imperative clinical problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Cheng
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingling Chen
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minchun Huang
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Hou
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhifeng Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Xiaojun Yang, ; Zhifeng Chen,
| | - Xiaojun Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Xiaojun Yang, ; Zhifeng Chen,
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