Flow cytometric characterization of rat thymus cells in a radiation-dominated model of combined injury

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Trauma; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-198805000-00005· OSTI ID:6992205

Kaffenberger, W; Gruber, D F; MacVittie, T J

Thymuses of rats that had been: a) gamma-irradiated (500 cGy whole-body radiation (R)), or b) thermally injured (20% BSA dorsal, scald burn (TI)), or c) combined injured (irradiation followed by burn (CI)) were studied for involution and recovery processes after sublethal treatments. The expression of surface antigens on thymic cells before and after injuries was evaluated using the monoclonal antibodies (mcAB) MRC OX4, MRC OX7, MRC OX8, W3/13 HLK, and W3/25 and flow cytometric analysis. Thymic cellularity decreased to less than 1% of normal (N), age-matched rats by 4 days after R or CI. Recovery reached 60% to 70% of N by 28 days post treatments. TI caused a biphasic thymic recovery pattern with nadirs of 40% of N on days 7 and 21. Recovery at day 28 was similar to that after R and CI. Expression of OX7, OX8, W3/13, and W3/25 antigens all reached nadirs of 40% of N by day 4 after R and CI. Recovery of antigen expression, except for W3/25, was near completion by day 7 after R and CI. Changes in antigen expression after TI were less pronounced for all mcAB tested. Decreases in labeling of thymocytes with the helper T-cell marker, W3/25, observed after TI, could not be correlated with elevated expressions of the suppressor/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen, OX8. Variations in relative labeling of nonlymphoid thymic cells with OX4 (Ia-antigen) reflected the disappearance and recovery of radiosensitive lymphoid thymocytes. The similarity of results after R and CI demonstrate that the model of CI is radiation-dominated. The addition of burn injury to radiation trauma had no synergistically damaging effect on the parameters studied.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6992205
• Journal Information: J. Trauma; (United States), Journal Name: J. Trauma; (United States) Vol. 28:5; ISSN JOTRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY REACTIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BURNS
CELL FLOW SYSTEMS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
GAMMA RADIATION
INJURIES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATIONS
RATS
RECOVERY
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SUBLETHAL IRRADIATION
SYNERGISM
THYMUS
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION