title: Radiation sensitivity of human and murine peripheral blood lymphocytes, stem and progenitor cells.
abstract: Immunodeficiency is a severe side effect of radiation therapy, notably at high radiation doses. It may also impact healthy individuals exposed to environmental ionizing radiation. Although it is believed to result from cytotoxicity of bone marrow cells and of immunocompetent cells in the peripheral blood, the response of distinct bone marrow and blood cell subpopulations following exposure to ionizing radiation is not yet fully explored. In this review, we aim to compile the knowledge on radiation sensitivity of immunocompetent cells and to summarize data from bone marrow and peripheral blood cells derived from mouse and human origin. In addition, we address the radiation response of blood stem and progenitor cells. The data indicate that stem cells, T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, monocytes, neutrophils and, at a high degree, B cells display a radiation sensitive phenotype while regulatory T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and natural killer cells appear to be more radioresistant. No conclusive data are available for basophil and eosinophil granulocytes. Erythrocytes and thrombocytes, but not their precursors, seem to be highly radioresistant. Overall, the data indicate considerable differences in radiosensitivity of bone marrow and blood normal and malignant cell populations, which are discussed in the light of differential radiation responses resulting in hematotoxicity and related clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heylmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University Medical Center, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rödel
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstraße 1, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kindler
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: kaina@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release
keywords: Cancer therapy; DNA repair; Lymphocytes; Monocytes; Radiation; Stem cells