Late Effects of the Chernobyl Radiation Accident on T Cell-Mediated Immunity in Cleanup Workers

Abstract Kuzmenok, O., Potapnev, M., Potapova, S., Smolnikova, V., Rzheutsky, V., Yarilin, A. A., Savino, W. and Belyakov, I. M. Late Effects of the Chernobyl Radiation Accident on T Cell-Mediated Immunity in Cleanup Workers. Radiat. Res. 159, 109–116 (2003). The main goal of this investigation was to evaluate the abnormal T-cell immunity in cleanup workers who took part in the cleanup after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) of apparently healthy cleanup workers (n = 134) were used to analyze the phenotype and proliferative response to mitogens in vitro. Evaluation of the MNC phenotype of cleanup workers did not reveal a significant disturbance in the T-cell subpopulation content except for an increase in CD3+CD16+56+ (NKT) cells. Immunophenotyping of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated MNCs demonstrated suppression of CD4+ T-cell propagation and augmentation of CD8+ T-cell propagation in vitro compared to control individuals. DNA synthesis in the MNCs of cleanup wor...