Commentary and Review Series 3-92
Rogue lymphocytes among Ukrainians not exposed to radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident: Possible role of this phenomenon in oncogenesis, teratogenesis, and mutagenesis
Neel JV, Awa AA, Kodama Y, Nakano M, Mabuchi KProc Natl Acad Sci USA 89:6973-7, 1992
Summary
Cultured lymphocytes exhibiting extreme cytogenetic damage (rogue cells) were observed in preparations from 8 of 24 individuals sampled in Krasilovka, a Ukrainian village receiving little or no increased radiation following the Chernobyl disaster, but were not observed in an additional 24 persons from two Russian towns in the more-contaminated area. This observation corroborates the worldwide occurrence of these cells. The present data plus a review of the literature establish that rogue cells appear in brief bursts simultaneously in certain individuals in discrete populations. It is suggested that the pattern is consistent with the action of a viral trigger that acts directly or indirectly, the latter possibly through the activation of latent chromosomal retroposons. If this phenomenon occurs in other tissues, it may have important implications for oncogenesis, teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and evolution.
Cultured lymphocytes exhibiting extreme cytogenetic damage (rogue cells) were observed in preparations from 8 of 24 individuals sampled in Krasilovka, a Ukrainian village receiving little or no increased radiation following the Chernobyl disaster, but were not observed in an additional 24 persons from two Russian towns in the more-contaminated area. This observation corroborates the worldwide occurrence of these cells. The present data plus a review of the literature establish that rogue cells appear in brief bursts simultaneously in certain individuals in discrete populations. It is suggested that the pattern is consistent with the action of a viral trigger that acts directly or indirectly, the latter possibly through the activation of latent chromosomal retroposons. If this phenomenon occurs in other tissues, it may have important implications for oncogenesis, teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and evolution.