Valproic acid decreases the reparation capacity of irradiated MOLT-4 cells

Mol Biol (Mosk). 2012 Jan-Feb;46(1):122-8.

Abstract

The aim of our work was to evaluate mechanisms leading to radiosensitization of MOLT-4 leukemia cells following valproic acid (VA) treatment. Cells were pretreated with 2 mM VA for 24 h followed by irradiation with a dose of 0.5 or 1 Gy. The effect of both noxae, alone and combined, was detected 1 and 24 hours after the irradiation. Induction of apoptosis was evaluated by a flow cytometry. The extent of DNA damage was further determined by phosphorylation of histone H2AX using confocal microscopy. Changes in protein expression were identified by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting. Two-millimolar VA increased apoptosis induction after irradiation as well as phosphorylation of H2AX and provokes an increase in the level of p53 and its phosphorylation at Ser392 in 4 h post-irradiation. Likewise, p21 protein reached its maximal expression in 4 h after the irradiation of VA-treated cells. Twenty four hours later, only the p53 phosphorylated at Ser15 was detected. At the same time, the protein mdm2 (negative regulator of p53) was maximally activated. The 24-hour treatment of MOLT-4 leukemia cells with 2 mM VA results in radiosensitizing, increases apoptosis induction, H2AX phosphorylation, and also p53 and p21 activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • DNA Damage / radiation effects
  • DNA Repair / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Gamma Rays
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / radiation effects
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / radiation effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / metabolism
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Valproic Acid / pharmacology*
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • H2AX protein, human
  • Histones
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Valproic Acid
  • MDM2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins