The effects of the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway on apoptosis in HeLa cells induced by carbon ion irradiation.

ABSTRACT

The molecular mechanisms underlying the biological effects of carbon ions are unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the Wnt/ß­catenin pathway in regulating carbon ion (12C6+) radiation­induced cellular toxicity. HLY78 is a Wnt­specific small molecular modulator, whose effects on 12C6+ radiation­induced damage are mostly unknown. HLY78, in combination with 12C6+ radiation was investigated on HeLa cell viability, cell cycle progression, DNA damage, and the expression of apoptotic and Wnt­related proteins. 12C6+ radiation suppressed cell viability in a time­dependent manner, whereas the addition of HLY78 to cells significantly reduced this stress. Moreover, after irradiation with 12C6+, HeLa cells exhibited increased cell apoptosis, G2/M phase arrest, and a number of γ­H2AX foci. However, Wnt signaling activation alleviated these effects. Furthermore, when compared with the radiation alone group, supplementation with HLY78 markedly increased the expression of anti­apoptotic and Wnt­related proteins, and significantly decreased the expression of apoptotic proteins. The present results indicated that activation of the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway by HLY78 reduced 12C6+ radiation­induced HeLa cell dysfunction, suggesting that the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating 12C6+ radiation­induced cellular toxicity in HeLa cells.