Epithelial–mesenchymal transition in non-targeted lung tissues of Kunming mice exposed to X-rays is suppressed by celecoxib

Lung cancer is one of the highest health risks caused by ionizing radiation, which induces both direct effects and non-targeted effects. However, whether radiation-induced non-targeted effects result in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, a critical process during tumorigenesis, in non-targeted lung tissues remains unknown. In the present study, Kunming mice were subjected to whole-body, cranial or local abdominal irradiation of single-dose or fractionated 4 Gy X-rays, and the expressions of epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers in non-targeted lung tissues were assessed by both qRT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining. It was found that the epithelial marker was downregulated while the mesenchymal markers were upregulated significantly in non-targeted lung tissues of the irradiated mice. Local abdominal irradiation was more efficient in inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition than whole-body or cranial irradiation when the fractionated irradiation method was adopted. In addition, the intraperitoneal administration of celecoxib suppressed epithelial–mesenchymal transition in the non-targeted lung tissues. In conclusion, our findings suggest that epithelial–mesenchymal transition is induced in non-targeted lung tissues, but can be suppressed by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by celecoxib.