title: Changes in oligosaccharides of human blood cells measured by tritium- and FITC-labeled lectins after in vitro- and in vivo-irradiation--lectin binding as a 'biological dosemeter'?
abstract: The lectin-binding system has been described previously as a biological dosimeter, by revealing induced changes in oligosaccharides of the cell membrane. The measurements were performed by binding [3H]concanavalin A to blood cells. Our results on human blood cells irradiated in vitro with doses in the range 0.5-5 Gy indicate great difficulties in using radioactive labeled Con-A for an accurate quantitative analysis of radiation effects on cell membranes. It appears nearly impossible to differentiate between only a few damaged cells and the remaining undamaged cells. Using fluorescein-labeled Con-A and wheat germ agglutinin, single-cell measurements of fluorescence intensity by flow cytometry revealed enhanced lectin-binding to platelets, lymphocytes and monocytes in the dose range 0.5-5 Gy after in vitro irradiation. But even by this method it was impossible to discriminate irradiations in either partial or whole-body irradiated patients. There were no significant or reproducible changes in the binding capacities of the blood-cell membranes of these patients. Therefore, the suitability of lectin binding as a 'biological indicator' for irradiation could not be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Radiation Hygiene of the Federal Health Office, Neuherberg/Munich, F.R. Germany.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spiegelberg
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Willich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Bögl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000097:blood*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C042784:fluorescein isothiocyanate-concanavalin A; D014316:Tritium; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate