Radioresistance of Serpinb3a–/– Mice and Derived Hematopoietic and Marrow Stromal Cell Lines

Serpins are a group of serine-proteases involved in multiple signal transduction pathways in mammalian cells. In particular, Serpinb3a is involved in the lysosomal necrosis cell death pathway with components that overlap with radiation-induced apoptosis. We investigated the radiation response of Serpinb3a^–/– mice compared to Serpinb3a^+/+ mice on the Balb/c background. Serpinb3a^–/– mice showed significant radioresistance to a dose of 8.0 Gy total-body irradiation, compared to Serpinb3a^+/+ Balb/c mice. Long-term bone marrow cultures from Serpinb3a^–/– mice showed increased longevity. In clonogenic survival assays, fresh bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors, as well as clonal interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent hematopoietic progenitor and bone marrow stromal cell lines from Serpinb3a^–/– mice were radioresistant. Serpinb3a^–/– mouse bone marrow-derived stromal cell lines had increased baseline and postirradiation antioxidant capacity. Serpinb3a^–/– bone marrow stromal cells showed increased radiation-induced RNA transcripts for MnSOD and p21, and decreased levels of p53 and TGF-b. Both irradiated Serpinb3a^–/– mouse bone marrow stromal cell lines and plasma removed from total-body irradiated mice had decreased levels of expression of stress response and inflammation-associated proteins. Abrogation of Serpinb3a may be a potential new target for mitigation of radiation effects.