title: Micronuclei in human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of X-rays and alpha particles.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse the cytogenetic effect of exposing human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to a mixed beam of alpha particles and X-rays. Whole blood collected from one donor was exposed to different doses of alpha particles ((241)Am), X-rays and a combination of both. All exposures were carried out at 37 °C. Three independent experiments were performed. Micronuclei (MN) in binucleated PBL were scored as the endpoint. Moreover, the size of MN was measured. The results show that exposure of PBL to a mixed beam of high and low linear energy transfer radiation led to significantly higher than expected frequencies of MN. The measurement of MN size did not reveal any differences between the effect of alpha particles and mixed beam. In conclusion, a combined exposure of PBL to alpha particles and X-rays leads to a synergistic effect as measured by the frequency of MN. From the analysis of MN distributions, we conclude that the increase was due to an impaired repair of X-ray-induced DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Stockholms Universitet, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Staaf
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brehwens
authors.forename: Siamak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haghdoost
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nievaart
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pachnerova-Brabcova
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czub
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braziewicz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojcik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects