1
|
Lumniczky K, Impens N, Armengol G, Candéias S, Georgakilas AG, Hornhardt S, Martin OA, Rödel F, Schaue D. Low dose ionizing radiation effects on the immune system. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106212. [PMID: 33293042 PMCID: PMC8784945 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation interacts with the immune system in many ways with a multiplicity that mirrors the complexity of the immune system itself: namely the need to maintain a delicate balance between different compartments, cells and soluble factors that work collectively to protect, maintain, and restore tissue function in the face of severe challenges including radiation damage. The cytotoxic effects of high dose radiation are less relevant after low dose exposure, where subtle quantitative and functional effects predominate that may go unnoticed until late after exposure or after a second challenge reveals or exacerbates the effects. For example, low doses may permanently alter immune fitness and therefore accelerate immune senescence and pave the way for a wide spectrum of possible pathophysiological events, including early-onset of age-related degenerative disorders and cancer. By contrast, the so called low dose radiation therapy displays beneficial, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties in chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases. In this review, epidemiological, clinical and experimental data regarding the effects of low-dose radiation on the homeostasis and functional integrity of immune cells will be discussed, as will be the role of immune-mediated mechanisms in the systemic manifestation of localized exposures such as inflammatory reactions. The central conclusion is that ionizing radiation fundamentally and durably reshapes the immune system. Further, the importance of discovery of immunological pathways for modifying radiation resilience amongst other research directions in this field is implied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Lumniczky
- National Public Health Centre, Department of Radiation Medicine, Budapest, Albert Florian u. 2-6, 1097, Hungary.
| | - Nathalie Impens
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Biosciences Expert Group, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
| | - Gemma Armengol
- Unit of Biological Anthropology, Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Serge Candéias
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-LCBM, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- DNA Damage Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Zografou 15780, Athens, Greece.
| | - Sabine Hornhardt
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Ingolstaedter Landstr.1, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Olga A Martin
- Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Franz Rödel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Dörthe Schaue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095-1714, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gyuleva IM, Penkova KI, Rupova IT, Panova DY, Djounova JN. Assessment of Some Immune Parameters in Occupationally Exposed Nuclear Power Plant Workers: Flow Cytometry Measurements of T Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Immunoglobulin Determination. Dose Response 2015; 13:1559325815611901. [PMID: 26740807 PMCID: PMC4679204 DOI: 10.1177/1559325815611901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A 10-year survey of immune status of nuclear power plant (NPP) workers was assessed by cellular and humoral immune parameters. The cumulative doses of NPP workers were in the range of 0.06 to 766.36 mSv. The results did not show significant deviations in the studied parameters of cellular and humoral immunity, but a tendency of elevated values in CD3+4+ helper inducers cells, especially its CD4+62L+ subpopulation, regulatory CD4+25+ cells, CD8+28+ cytotoxic subpopulation, and immunoglobulin M, was established. The observed trend of the above-mentioned parameters could be interpreted by assumption that while the adaptation processes are dominated with low prevalence of T-helper (Th) 1 immune response to cumulative doses less than 100 mSv, a switch to Th-2 response occurred at doses above 100 mSv. The impact of a number of other confounding factors on the immune system does not allow definitive conclusions about the direct radiation-induced changes in immune parameters.
Collapse
|