X-ray irradiation has positive effects for the recovery of peripheral nerve injury maybe through the vascular smooth muscle contraction signaling pathway

•Low dose ionizing radiation can accelerate the proliferation of a variety of cells.•1 Gy group to be the most effective promoting repair.•We performed transcriptome sequencing focusing on differentially expressed genes.•Cell adhesion may be involved in recovery from spinal cord injury.

IntroductionIt is well known that moderate to high doses of ionizing radiation have a toxic effect on the organism. However, there are few experimental studies on the mechanisms of LDR ionizing radiation on nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.MethodsWe established the rats' peripheral nerve injury model via repaired Peripheral nerve injury nerve, vascular endothelial growth factor a and Growth associated protein-43 were detected from different treatment groups. We performed transcriptome sequencing focusing on investigating the differentially expressed genes and gene functions between the control group and 1 Gy group. Sequencing was done by using high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technologies.ResultsThe results showed the 1 Gy group to be the most effective promoting repair. RNA-sequencing identified 619 differently expressed genes between control and treated groups. A Gene Ontology analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed enrichment in the functional pathways. Among them, candidate genes associated with nerve repair were identified.DiscussionPathways involved in cell-substrate adhesion, vascular smooth muscle contraction and cell adhesion molecule signaling may be involved in recovery from peripheral nerve injury.