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Chronic low-dose gamma-radiation exposure and the alteration of the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in residents of radioactive buildings.

PURPOSE
To elucidate the immunological change incurred in a human population by protracted gamma-radiation exposure at home environment.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
An examination on the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and HLA-DR+ lymphocyte subsets was arranged for 196 exposed subjects with mean excess cumulative dose of 169 mSv during 2-13 years of exposure. Another 55 close relatives of the exposed subjects were recruited as the non-exposed reference population.


RESULTS
The mean percentages of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, HLA-DR+ lymphocytes and the CD4+ /CD8+ ratios in the exposed subjects (35.5, 19.9 and 1.51 respectively) were significantly lower than those of reference individuals (38.0, 22.6 and 1.72; p= 0.02, 0.003, and 0.03 respectively), while the CD8+ in total counts of the exposed was moderately increased above that of the reference populations (p=0.1). By ANOVA analysis, the percentages of CD4+ and HLA-DR+ subsets were significantly associated with radiation dose (p=0.0046, 0.003), while CD4+/CD8+ ratios were moderately associated with dose (p=0.073). HLA-DR+ counts were significantly and positively associated with duration of relocation from radioactive apartments (p = 0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant immunological effects were observed in those who had received chronic low-dose radiation exposure.