Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation Affects Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Extracellular Oxidized Cell-Free DNA: A Possible Mediator of Bystander Effect and Adaptive Response

Figure 3

Both low-dose radiation (10 cGy) and cfDNAox and cfDNAoxR (50 ng/ml) fragments induce an increase in NOX4 expression. (a) Changes in the levels of mRNAs encoding NOX4. NOX4 mRNA in treated cells compared to control (three biological replicates). Reference gene was TBP. , nonparametric U test (qRT-PCR). (b) FL1-NOX4 versus SSC plots. Gate R encircles the fraction of MSCs with elevated values of FL1-NOX4 (flow cytometry). (c) Distribution of cells treated with 10 cGy radiation according to the FL1-NOX4 signal strength (flow cytometry). (d) NOX4 level after irradiation with 10 cGy and treatment with 50 ng/ml of cfDNAox and cfDNAoxR and the dynamic change of average fluorescence intensity of NOX4. , nonparametric U test (flow cytometry).

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