Radiation sensitivity of human lymphocytes.
A simple and rapid in vitro technique to assess the sensitivity of human lymphocytes to X- and UV-radiation is described. Peripheral blood lymphocytes are cloned in agar and colony survival is used as the end point. Survival down to a fraction of approx. 0.02 can be measured accurately. The D10 for X-radiation is approx. 165 rad and the initial portion of the survival curve is linear with no evidence of a threshold. The D10 for UV-radiation is approx. 50 erg/mm2. The technique should be of value both for general radiobiological studies and for detecting individuals having abnormalities of DNA repair.
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004260:DNA Repair; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014965:X-Rays