Effect of ionizing radiation on p16 gene transcription and protein expression

Objective To investigate the effect of ionizing radiation on p16 gene transcription and protein expression. Methods Northern blot was employed to determine p16mRNA level. Flowcytometry was used to measure p16 protein expression. Results It was demonstrated that p16mRNA level was markedly increased at 2\|24 h in thymocytes and at 2\|8 h in splenocytes,and p16 protein expression increased significantly at 8\|48 h for thymocytes ( P 0 05 to P 0\^01) and at 24 h for splenocytes ( P 0\^05) after whole body X\|irradiation with 2\^0 Gy in mice.In the dose\|effect experiments,it was found that p16mRNA level increased with the increase of dose in thymocytes and splenocytes and the p16 protein expression was also increased significantly with the doses from 1\^0 to 4\^0 Gy for both thymocytes and splenocytes ( P 0\^05 to P 0\^01). Conclusion p16 gene transcription and portein expression could be up\|regulated by X\|rays and the tendency of increase varied with the radiation dose and cell type.\;