Low Dose, Low Dose Rate Photon Radiation Modifies Leukocyte Distribution and Gene Expression in CD4 + T Cells

Low dose radiation/!-radiation/T cells/Hematopoiesis/Gene expression. A better understanding of low dose radiation effects is needed to accurately estimate health risks. In t his study, C57BL/6 mice were !-irradiated to total doses of 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 Gy ( 57 Co; ~0.02 cGy/h). Subsets per group were euthanized at the end of irradiation (day 0) and on days 4 and 21 thereafter. Relative spleen mass and splenic white blood cell (WBC) counts, major leukocyte populations, and spontaneous DNA synthesis were consistently higher in the irradiated groups on day 0 compared to 0 Gy controls, although significance was not always obtained. In the s pleen, all three major leukocyte types were significantly elevated on day 0 (P < 0.05). By day 21 post-irradiation the T, B, and natural killer (NK) cell counts, as well as CD4 + T cells and CD4:CD8 T cell ratio, were low especially in the 0.01 Gy group. Although blood analyses showed no significant differences in leukocyte counts or red blood cell and platelet characteristics, the total T cells, CD4 + T cells, and NK cells were increased by day 21 after 0.01 Gy (P < 0.05). Gene analysis of CD4 + T cells negatively isolated from spleens on day 0 after 0.1 Gy showed significantly enhanced expression of Il27 and Tcfcp2, whereas Inha and Socs5 were downregulated by 0.01 Gy and 0.1 Gy, respectively (P < 0.05). A trend for enhancement was noted in two additional genes (Il 1r1 and Tbx21) in the 0.1 Gy group (P < 0.1). The data show that protracted low dose photons had dose- and time-dependent effects on CD4 + T cells after whole-body exposure.