Effect of gamma radiation on resting B lymphocytes. I. Oxygen-dependent damage to the plasma membrane results in increased permeability and cell enlargement

Journal Article · Thu May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Immunol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5526180

Ashwell, J D; Schwartz, R H; Mitchell, J B; Russo, A

Although the susceptibility of resting B lymphocytes to radiation-induced interphase death is well known, the mechanism by which this occurs is not understood. In this report, we use three measures of plasma membrane integrity (increase in cell volume, uptake of trypan blue, and release of /sup 51/Cr) to assess the effect of radiation on the resting B cell plasma membrane. The delivery of 500 to 1000 rad caused the majority of resting B cells to enlarge slightly, whereas 3000 rad caused virtually all of the cells to approximately double in size within 3 to 4 hr. Measurement of the release of /sup 51/Cr from resting B cells revealed a similar relationship between the dose of radiation and the loss of radioactive label. Trypan blue exclusion was also found to diminish as a function of radiation dose. An analysis of a variety of lymphoid cells suggested that sensitivity to the membrane damaging effects of gamma radiation was in the order of resting B cells greater than resting T cells greater than a long-term L3T4+ T cell clone greater than a B cell lymphoma. LPS-induced B cell blasts treated with 3000 rad were equivalent to 1000 rad-treated resting B cells. The effects of the gamma radiation could be ameliorated by excluding oxygen at the time of irradiation, or by adding the free radical scavenging agent cysteamine. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that gamma radiation results in damage to the plasma membrane of resting lymphocytes via the generation of highly reactive free radical species. This damage is reflected in a rapid increase in plasma membrane permeability and swelling of the cells, and may play a major role in causing interphase death.

• Research Organization: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5526180
• Journal Information: J. Immunol.; (United States), Vol. 10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CELL MEMBRANES
PERMEABILITY
RADIOSENSITIVITY
LYMPHOCYTES
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ANOXIA
CHROMIUM 51
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GAMMA RADIATION
MICE
OXYGEN
RADIATION DOSES
TRYPAN BLUE
AMINES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AZO COMPOUNDS
AZO DYES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DOSES
DYES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
NAPHTHOLS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SULFONIC ACIDS
VERTEBRATES
560121* - Radiation Effects on Cells- External Source- (-1987)