Ionizing radiation is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases; however, cumulative exposure, even within doses considered permissible, can induce cellular damage, particularly in the skin, as it is the first organ exposed. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate changes in the expression of the Hsp70 protein as a bioindicator of cellular stress in HaCaT epithelial cells exposed to low doses of gamma radiation. To this end, HaCaT cells cultured in vitro were irradiated using a 137Cs source, and Hsp70 expression was subsequently analyzed by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and immunodetection. Basal Hsp70 expression was detected in non-irradiated cells, as well as an increase in expression under heat stress conditions. Following exposure to the radiation field, an increase in Hsp70 expression was observed at a dose of 73.7 μGy, followed by a slight decrease as the dose increased. These findings suggest a dose-dependent response in Hsp70 expression to gamma radiation and demonstrate that exposure to low doses induces cellular stress in HaCaT cells, as reflected by changes in the expression of this protein. Taken together, these results support the potential use of Hsp70 as an early biomarker of cellular stress and may contribute to the development of more effective radiological protection and safety strategies for low-dose radiation exposures.
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