Expression of Notch in murine bone marrow stromal cells with radiation injury and its significance

Objective To investigate the change of Notch expression in murine bone marrow stromal cell after exposure to γ-rays in vitro. Methods Cultured murine bone marrow stromal cells irradiated with 8.0 Gy ~ 60 Co γ-rays were used in this study. The Notch_1, Jegged_1, Hes_1 genes expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 12 h after the irradiation. Results There were no expression of Notch_1, Jegged_1, and Hes_1 genes in normal murine bone marrow stromal cells at mRNA level, while Notch_1, Jegged_1, and Hes_1 genes were expressed at 2 h after the irradiation, and reached a peak at 4 h, then returned back to the normal level at 8-12 h. The differences between the exposed group and the control group were statistically significant (P0.001). Conclusions Notch signaling pathway was activated in cultured murine bone marrow stromal cellls after exposure to γ-rays, it is suggested that Notch signaling pathway is involved in the radiation damage to murine bone marrow stromal cells.;