ADAMTS1 Is Differentially Expressed in Human Lymphocytes with Various Frequencies of Endogenous γH2AX Foci and Radiation-Induced Micronuclei

The level of spontaneous and radiation-induced DNA damage varies depending on genetic and environmental factors in human somatic cells. This variation may be associated with transcriptional changes in cells, allowing the use of gene expression levels as markers of individual sensitivity to mutagenic effects. This study aimed to identify and characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lymphocytes of individuals with various frequencies of endogenous γH2AX foci and radiation-induced micronuclei ( n = 37). The low-focus group was characterized by 0.18 ± 0.02 endogenous γH2AX foci per cell and a 155.78 ± 47.19‰ radiation-induced micronucleus frequency. The high-focus group was characterized by 0.49 ± 0.07 foci/cell and a 78.44 ± 33.21‰ micronucleus frequency. Seven DEGs ( ENST00000424415 , CRNDE , ADAMTS1 , ENST00000424084 , EIF2A , PNPLA5 , and FRG2C ) (FDR < 0.2) were identified by gene expression analysis with microarrays. As the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase, ADAMTS1 is able to activate the latent form of TGFβ, and TGFβ is involved in radiation-induced cellular response; the effects of ADAMTS1 knockout and overexpression on the gene expression profile were further validated in adherent HeLa cells. Twenty-nine of 160 identified DEGs are involved in apoptosis, DNA DSB repair, G 2 /M cell cycle transition, and the TGFβ signaling pathway. Thus, ADAMTS1 may be useful as a potential target for antitumor therapy.