Protective signaling pathways in the cellular radiation response: Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) and Nrf2

Abstract

As a prerequisite for developing appropriate countermeasures to mitigate acute effects and late risks of ionizing radiation exposure, the role of protective pathways in the cellular radiation response needs to be better understood. The Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) pathway is generally regarded as protective by upregulating anti-apoptotic genes and is known to be activated by DNA double strand breaks. The transcription factor Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 Like 2 (Nrf2) is activated in response to oxidative stress and increases the expression of anti-oxidative enzymes. In this work, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activation of NF-κB and Nrf2 and the expression of selected target genes after ionizing radiation exposure (X-rays, heavy ions) were analyzed in human cell lines.