Influence of late radiation effects on the immunological parameters of aging. Final technical report, September 1977-August 1983

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5345222

Makinodan, T

A series of tests of immunologic function were used in assessing the immune status of individuals who survived the atomic bombs in Japan in 1945. A-bomb survivors (n=189) residing in the US were recruited to participate in the study. Survivors exposed to varying low doses of radiation (S/sub +/ group) had healthier immune responses than those exposed to O rads (S/sub 0/ group). The difference was significant for natural cytotoxicity (p = .028). Less striking differences with the same trend (i.e., S/sub +/ healthier than S/sub 0/) were observed with: the mixed lymphocyte reactions, mitogenic response to PHA, interferon production, serum interferon levels (all S/sub +/ > S/sub 0/), frequency of detectable immune complexes, rheumatoid factor, and antimitochondrial antibodies (all S/sub +/ > S/sub 0/). In order to study the Japanese A-bomb survivors, a collaborative study was initiated with the Radiation Research Effects Foundation in Hiroshima, Japan. Immunologic tests were performed on blood samples from 278 individuals including 202 survivors of whom approximately one-third each were exposed to 0, 1-99, and 100+ rads at the time of the bomb. A decrease in immune responses was observed with increasing exposure. It is interesting that, consistent with our findings on the American survivors, the Japanese survivors exposed to 1-9 rads showed a small increase in natural cytotoxicity compared to the group exposed to 0 rads. Females showed a stronger dose-related decline than males (who may have shown a slight increase) with natural cytotoxicity, and both groups showed a small effect with interleukin 2 production. With both tests males were higher than females. Natural cytotoxicity increased significantly with age, as did serum immune complex levels. In the pilot study of the murine model for plasmacytoma formation, it was shown that age and radiation may both predispose to plasmacytoma formation. 22 references, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5345222
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/70264-T1; ON: DE84005120
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
560152 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
ASIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DATA
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HIROSHIMA
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IMMUNITY
INFORMATION
JAPAN
MAMMALS
MICE
NAGASAKI
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
NUMERICAL DATA
POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RODENTS
SEX DEPENDENCE
VERTEBRATES
WEAPONS