title: Evaluation of systemic markers of inflammation in atomic-bomb survivors with special reference to radiation and age effects.
abstract: Past exposure to atomic bomb (A-bomb) radiation has exerted various long-lasting deleterious effects on the health of survivors. Some of these effects are seen even after >60 yr. In this study, we evaluated the subclinical inflammatory status of 442 A-bomb survivors, in terms of 8 inflammation-related cytokines or markers, comprised of plasma levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-4, IL-10, and immunoglobulins, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The effects of past radiation exposure and natural aging on these markers were individually assessed and compared. Next, to assess the biologically significant relationship between inflammation and radiation exposure or aging, which was masked by the interrelationship of those cytokines/markers, we used multivariate statistical analyses and evaluated the systemic markers of inflammation as scores being calculated by linear combinations of selected cytokines and markers. Our results indicate that a linear combination of ROS, IL-6, CRP, and ESR generated a score that was the most indicative of inflammation and revealed clear dependences on radiation dose and aging that were found to be statistically significant. The results suggest that collectively, radiation exposure, in conjunction with natural aging, may enhance the persistent inflammatory status of A-bomb survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology/Molecular Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami Ward, Hiroshima 732-0815 Japan. tomo@rerf.or.jp
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Ravindra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khattree
authors.forename: Munechika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misumi
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Ikue
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kajimura
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyoizumi
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007564:Japan; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D054043:Nuclear Weapons; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species