BK_Ca channel deletion modulates the DNA damage response to electron ultra-high dose rate irradiation in glioblastoma cells.

PURPOSE

Large-conductance Ca^{2 +}-activated potassium (BK_Ca) channels have been implicated in glioblastoma progression and oxidative stress; however, their contribution to the cellular response to ionizing radiation remains poorly understood. Potassium channels represent attractive therapeutic targets because their activity can be modulated pharmacologically using selective inhibitors or genetically by gene silencing (siRNA) or gene knockout (CRISPR/Cas9). Here, we investigated whether genetic inhibition of BK_Ca modulates the DNA damage response of human glioblastoma cells following electron ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) irradiation.

METHODS

Human U87MG glioblastoma cells and BK_Ca-knockout cells (U87MG ΔαBK_Ca) were exposed to an electron UHDR-9 MeV beam with an average dose rate of 150 Gy/s. Clonogenic survival, reactive oxygen species levels, cell-cycle distribution, apoptosis, DNA-DSBs, DNA repair, and expression of selected genes encoding DDR pathways were analyzed.

RESULTS

BK_Ca deletion did not significantly alter clonogenic survival following UHDR irradiation. Cells lacking the BK_Ca channel exhibited elevated ROS levels, altered cell cycle distribution with G0/G1 accumulation, and enhanced apoptosis. UHDR induced lower γH2AX accumulation and reduced 53BP1 foci formation in U87MG ΔαBK_Ca cells, suggesting impaired DNA damage recognition and repair complex assembly. Gene expression analysis revealed a shift toward upregulation of DSBR pathways and downregulation of PARP-dependent SSBR mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these findings identify BK_Ca as a regulator of the early molecular response of glioblastoma cells to electron UHDR irradiation and provide a basis for further studies investigating BK_Ca-dependent radiation responses as a target for therapeutic modulation.

© 2026. The Author(s).