The expression and significance of IL-11 receptor in bone marrow cells of mice with neutron irradiation

Objective To study the change and its significance of IL-11 receptor of bone marrow cells of mice irradiated with neutron. Methods 100 BALB/c mice were whole-body irradiated with neutron of 2.5 and 4.0 Gy, then killed at 6 hours and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days after the irradiation. Pathologic changes of bone marrow were observed using optical microscope and electron microscope. The apoptosis and necrosis of hematopoietic cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and DNA gel electrophoresis. The expressions of IL-11R and gp130 were measured by immunocytochemistry and image analysis. Results Apoptosis and necrosis were occurred in hematopoietic cells, and the number of the cells was progressively decreased within 3 days after neutron irradiation of 2.5 Gy, then began to recover at 5 days and completely recovered at 28 days after the irradiation. Irradiation with neutron of 4.0 Gy induced severe injury in bone marrow, and the damaged to bone marrow was hardly recovered. IL-11Rα protein slightly increased in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of hematopoietic cells at 1 day after irradiation with 2.5 Gy neutrons, then progressively decreased through 2 to 7 days, and began to gradually recover starting from the 14th days after the irradiation. Gp130 protein, however, was progressively decreased within 7 days and then gradually increased after 14 days of irradiation. With neutron irradiation of 4.0 Gy, both IL-11Rα and gp130 protein decreased more significantly within 2 days than the group irradiated with 2.5 Gy neutrons. Conclusion IL-11Rα and gp130 protein were observed to be decreased in injured hematopoietic cells and then increased during the recovery time, which suggested the expressions of both proteins may play an important role in the reconstruction of injuring hematopoietic cells after irradiation.;