title: [Study of T lymphocyte rDNA transcription activity in chronic benzene poisoning patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte rDNA transcription activity and to study the significance of immune monitoring for patients with chronic benzene poisoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood samples were withdrawn from 39 patients with chronic benzene poisoning, 20 patients with malignant disease and 22 healthy controls. Cell culture, argyrophil staining method, I-CLQ cell image analysis system were used in this study. rDNA transcription activity which was expressed by the ratio of integrated area (IA) of nucleolus to that of nucleus, and the ratio of integrated optical density (IOD) of argyrophilic nucleolus to that of argyrophilic nucleus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The value of IA and IOD in chronic benzene poisoning patients (7.95% +/- 1.13% and 7.15% +/- 1.15% respectively) were lower than those in controls (9.59% +/- 1.26% and 8.92% +/- 1.18% respectively), P < 0.01. The value of IA and IOD in chronic moderate benzene poisoning patients (6.54% +/- 0.88%) and (5.47% +/- 0.80%) were lower than those to be observed (7.98% +/- 1.06% and 7.13% +/- 0.96% respectively) as well as in mild poisoning patients (8.19% +/- 1.06% and 7.44% +/- 1.06% respectively), P < 0.05. (2) The value of IA and IOD in malignant group (4.10% +/- 1.50%, 3.67% +/- 1.42%) were much more lower than those in controls and in chronic benzene poisoning patients (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rDNA transcription activity may be an index to monitor the cellular immune function of chronic benzene poisoning patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Occupational Medicine, the Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Li-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Jin-yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Li-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000506:poisoning*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D001554:Benzene