A novel radioresistant mechanism of galectin-1 mediated by H-Ras-dependent pathways in cervical cancer cells

Cell Death Dis. 2012 Jan 12;3(1):e251. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2011.120.

Abstract

Galectin-1 is a lectin recognized by galactoside-containing glycoproteins, and is involved in cancer progression and metastasis. The role of galectin-1 in radiosensitivity has not previously been investigated. Therefore, this study tests whether galectin-1 is involved in the radiosensitivity mediated by the H-Ras signaling pathway using cervical carcinoma cell lines. A knockdown of galectin-1 expression in HeLa cells decreased clonogenic survival following irradiation. The clonogenic survival increased in both HeLa and C33A cells with galectin-1 overexpression. The overexpression or knockdown of galectin-1 did not alter radiosensitivity, whereas H-Ras was silenced in both cell lines. Whereas K-Ras was knocked down, galectin-1 restored the radiosensitivity in HeLa cells and C33A cells. The knockdown of galectin-1 increased the high-dose radiation-induced cell death of HeLa cells transfected by constitutively active H-Ras. The knockdown of galectin-1 inhibited the radiation-induced phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK in HeLa cells. Overexpression of galectin-1 enhanced the phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK in C33A cells following irradiation. Galectin-1 decreased the DNA damage detected using comet assay and γ-H2AX in both cells following irradiation. These findings suggest that galectin-1 mediates radioresistance through the H-Ras-dependent pathway involved in DNA damage repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Comet Assay
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA Repair / radiation effects*
  • Galectin 1 / genetics
  • Galectin 1 / metabolism
  • Gamma Rays*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Reporter
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Radiation Tolerance / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects
  • Transfection
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Galectin 1
  • H2AX protein, human
  • Histones
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • DNA
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf
  • ras Proteins