title: Quality control of blood irradiation: determination T cells radiosensitivity to cobalt-60 gamma rays.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify the most appropriate dose for the prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, the radiosensitivity of T cells has been determined in blood bags irradiated with X-rays produced by a linear accelerator and gamma rays derived from the cesium-137 source of a specific irradiator. In this study, the influence of doses ranging from 500 to 2500 cGy was investigated on T cells isolated from red blood cell (RBC) units preserved with ADSOL and irradiated with a cobalt teletherapy unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A thermal device consisting of acrylic and foam was constructed to store the blood bags during irradiation. Blood temperature was monitored with an automated data acquisition system. Dose distribution in the blood bags was analyzed based on isodose curves obtained with a polystyrene phantom constructed for this purpose. The influence of cobalt-60 gamma radiation on T cells was determined by limiting-dilution analysis, which measures clonable T cells. T-cell content of the mononuclear cell population plated was assessed by flow cytometry with a monoclonal antibody specific for CD3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood temperature ranged from 2 to 4.5 degrees C during irradiation. Dosimetry performed on the phantom showed a homogenous dose distribution when the phantom was irradiated with a parallel-opposite field. A radiation dose of 1500 cGy led to the inactivation of T cells by 4 log, but T-cell growth was observed in all experiments. At 2500 cGy, no T-cell growth was detected in any of the experiments and a greater than 5 log reduction in functional T cells was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that a dose of 2500 cGy completely inactivates T cells in RBC units irradiated with cobalt-60 source.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering Program of Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil. eggoes@terra.com.br
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Góes
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Covas
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.forename: P V B
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pelá
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine; D001793:Blood Preservation; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005947:Glucose; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D047589:Leukocyte Reduction Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008353:Mannitol; D011786:Quality Control; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: C037839:ADSOL; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D008353:Mannitol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005947:Glucose; D000225:Adenine