title: Cytokine status in Ukrainian children with irritable bowel syndrome residing in a radioactive contaminated area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of low dose radiation on immune system is shown. Ionizing radiation can affect cytokine production and polarization of T helper cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study focused on ionizing radiation in Ukrainian children residing in a contaminated area with clinical irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study included 75 rural children population aged 4-18 yrs, who lived in a contaminated area exposed to natural environmental radiation with clinical irritable bowel syndrome (categorized in three groups) and 20 rural children participants aged 5-15 yrs who were living in areas with similar levels of radioactive contamination without clinical irritable bowel syndrome as control group. Internal radiation activity was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Serum levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A trend towards increased levels of IL-4 was observed in children with clinical irritable bowel syndrome. In these children, IFN-γ levels were lower than that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IBS symptoms in Ukrainian children residing in a contaminated area may have stemmed from Th1 to Th2 immune deviation and differential expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, National Medical Academy for Post Graduate Education, Kiev, Ukraine, e-mail: mohammad_esfahan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sheikh Sajjadieh
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bojenko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012424:Rural Population; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D014455:Ukraine
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma