Acceleration of Diabetic Wound Healing by Low-Dose Radiation is Associated with Peripheral Mobilization of Bone Marrow Stem Cells

• Published in: Radiation research 2010-10, Vol.174 (4), p.467-479
• Main Authors: Guo, Wei-Ying, Wang, Guan-Jun, Wang, Ping, Chen, Qiang, Tan, Yi, Cai, Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Blood Vessels - physiopathology; Blood Vessels - radiation effects; Bone healing; Bone marrow; Bone Marrow Cells - cytology; Cell growth; Cell Movement - radiation effects; Cell Proliferation - radiation effects; Diabetes; Diabetes complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - immunology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation - radiation effects; Healing; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Radiation dosage; Rats; Rats, Wistar; REGULAR ARTICLES; Skin - immunology; Skin - injuries; Skin - metabolism; Skin - radiation effects; Space life sciences; Stem cells; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - metabolism; Stem Cells - radiation effects; Time Factors; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - genetics; Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Wound healing; Wound Healing - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0033-7587; 1938-5404
• DOI: 10.1667/RR1980.1

In this study we investigated the effect of repeated low-dose radiation exposure (75 mGy X ray) on skin wound healing in a rat model of diabetes. A skin wound was made on the backs of diabetic and age-matched control rats 60 days after diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin. Rats with skin wounds were immediately treated with whole-body radiation daily for 5, 10 or 15 days with a 2-day break every 5 days. Wound size was estimated 5, 10 and 15 days after wound formation. Repeated exposure of diabetic rats to low-dose radiation significantly accelerated skin wound healing compared to the nonirradiated diabetic group. Furthermore, low-dose radiation-induced improvement in healing was associated with increases in bone marrow and circulating CD31+/CD34+ stem cells, vessel regeneration and cell proliferation in the wound tissue, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 expression. Therefore, we conclude that the acceleration of wound healing in diabetic rats by repeated exposure to low-dose radiation is associated with stimulation of bone marrow stem cell proliferation and peripheral mobilization.