Late T cell deficiency in victims of the Chernobyl radiation accident: possible mechanisms of induction.
T cell number, serum concentrations of thymic hormones and anti-epithelial autoantibodies were studied in people affected at Chernobyl NPP. Group 1 took part in the clearing-up operation and had no clinical manifestations of acute radiation sickness. Group 2 worked at the NPP during the accident; they survived acute radiation sickness (degree I-II, subgroup 2a; degree III-IV, subgroup 2b). The total doses of external radiation were 0.1-0.5 Gy in group 1, up to 4 Gy in subgroup 2a and up to 9 Gy in subgroup 2b. Total T cell number, serum thymic activity and alpha 1-thymosin concentration were decreased in all groups of affected persons. CD8+ cell number decreased only in group 1; CD4+ cell number in subgroup 2b. A decrease in thymic hormone level was most prominent in subgroup 2b. The titres of anti-epithelial antibodies were increased in all groups of affected persons independently of radiation dose. The titres were higher in patients with subnormal levels of alpha 1-thymosin. It has been proposed that radiation alters the function of thymic epithelial cells by direct action and/or through indirect mechanisms including participation of autoantibodies. The observed complex of alterations is similar to that in the normal process of immunological ageing.
Yarilin
A A
AA
Institute of Immunology, Ministry of Public Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia.
Belyakov
I M
IM
Kusmenok
O I
OI
Arshinov
V Y
VY
Simonova
A V
AV
Nadezhina
N M
NM
Gnezditskaya
E V
EV
D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D013947:Thymosin / Q000097:blood; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000097:blood; D014455:Ukraine
D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013947:Thymosin