Technical Report No. 16-85
Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes of atomic bomb survivors using monoclonal antibodies
Fujiwara S, Akiyama M, Kobuke K, Hakoda M, Olson GB, Ochi Y, Nakashima E, Anderson RE, Fujikura TEditor’s note: A publication based on this report was published in J Radiat Res (Tokyo) 27:255-66, 1986.
Summary
In order to study the effects of exposure to atomic bomb radiation on the immune competence of man, the proportions of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were determined by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence microscopy. The study was based on a total of 104 Adult Health Study participants in Hiroshima, including 29 individuals exposed to 100+ rad, 46 exposed to 1-99 rad, and 29 controls of 0 rad.
No change in the proportion of Leu-1 positive cells (total T cells) and Leu-2a positive cells (cytotoxic/suppressor T cells) among peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed with age, while Leu-3a positive cells (helper/inducer T cells) decreased with age and HLA-DR positive cells (B cells and monocytes) increased with age, being especially remarkable in the oldest age-group (more than 75). The proportion of HLA-DR positive cells was higher in males, but there was no significant sex difference in the proportions of other cell types. Radiation exposure did not significantly affect the proportions of Leu-1, Leu-2a, Leu-3a, and HLA-DR positive cells. No interaction between the effects of age and radiation exposure was demonstrated.
In order to study the effects of exposure to atomic bomb radiation on the immune competence of man, the proportions of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were determined by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence microscopy. The study was based on a total of 104 Adult Health Study participants in Hiroshima, including 29 individuals exposed to 100+ rad, 46 exposed to 1-99 rad, and 29 controls of 0 rad.
No change in the proportion of Leu-1 positive cells (total T cells) and Leu-2a positive cells (cytotoxic/suppressor T cells) among peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed with age, while Leu-3a positive cells (helper/inducer T cells) decreased with age and HLA-DR positive cells (B cells and monocytes) increased with age, being especially remarkable in the oldest age-group (more than 75). The proportion of HLA-DR positive cells was higher in males, but there was no significant sex difference in the proportions of other cell types. Radiation exposure did not significantly affect the proportions of Leu-1, Leu-2a, Leu-3a, and HLA-DR positive cells. No interaction between the effects of age and radiation exposure was demonstrated.