Increase in cell motility by carbon ion irradiation via the Rho signaling pathway and its inhibition by the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632

Murata, Kazutoshi*; Noda, Shinei*; Oike, Takahiro*; Takahashi, Akihisa*; Yoshida, Yukari*; Suzuki, Yoshiyuki*; Ono, Tatsuya*; Funayama, Tomoo; Kobayashi, Yasuhiko; Takahashi, Takeo*; Nakano, Takashi*

This study aimed to investigate the effect of carbon ion (C-ion) irradiation on cell motility through the ras homolog gene family member (Rho) signaling pathway in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Cell motility was assessed by a wound-healing assay, and the formation of cell protrusions was evaluated by F-actin staining. Cell viability was examined by the WST-1 assay. The expression of myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) and the phosphorylation of MLC2 at Ser19 (P MLC2-S19) were analyzed by Western blot. The data suggest that C-ion irradiation increases cell motility in A549 cells via the Rho signaling pathway and that ROCK inhibition reduces that effect.