Immune response in mice exposed to low-dose X-rays

The present paper was conducted to evaluate the immunological effect of low dose gamma-irradiation. The splenocytes of mice (C57BL/6N), 24 hours after the irradiation from 0.087 to 0.87 Gy, were incubated with mitogens of T or B lymphocytes, allo-antigen (splenic cells of BALB/c mice) (MLC) or sheep red blood cells (SRBC) 10 days after immunization with the SRBC in vivo, and then their incorporations of 3H-thymidine were measured. On the other hand, this incorporation in the presence of T-cell growth factor (IL-2) in vitro and a drug of AET in vivo was investigated to examine their radioprotective effects. The dose-response relation, i.e. decrease of 3H-thymidine incorporation in function of increase of the irradiation dose, was demonstrated in these immunological examinations except at the dose of 0.087 Gy. More, their incorporation was remarkably promoted by the administration of the T cell growth factor and the drug, therefore, these substances represent the radioprotective effect.     

Adrenocorticotropic hormone controls Concanavalin A activation of rat lymphocytes by modulating IL-2 production

The initiation of DNA synthesis and secretion of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) was measured in isolated rat splenic lymphocytes following activation with Concanavalin A (ConA). The extent of 3H-thymidine incorporation into activated cells was tested when cultured with various concentrations of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). A paradoxical dose-response curve resulted when ACTH caused a biphasic response of augmenting and inhibiting 3H-thymidine uptake in lymphocytes depending on the hormone concentration. Low levels of ACTH (0.001-1-nM) augmented 3H-thymidine uptake and high levels (10-1000 nM) reversed the effect. The optimal ACTH concentration was 10 pM ACTH in the presence of 5 ug/ml ConA and there was no ACTH effect on quiescent cells (no ConA). Conditioned media from splenic lymphocytes treated with various concentrations of ConA or ACTH was tested for increased uptake of 3H-thymidine by the IL-2 growth dependent Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Leukemia (CTLL-2) cells. ConA conditioned medium could sustain the CTLL-2 cells indicating the presence of IL-2. Conditioned medium from splenic lymphocytes treated with both ConA and 100 pM ACTH further increased CTLL-2 cell proliferation indicating an additional increase of IL-2 secretion. The identity of IL-2 was confirmed by using an anti-rat IL-2 antibody to neutralize the growth potential of the conditioned medium. ACTH alone had no effect on the CTLL-2 cell proliferation indicating the effect is due solely to induced IL-2 found in the conditioned medium. IL-2 levels in the conditioned media were quantitated by ELISA assay; splenic lymphocytes produced 4.2 ng/ml to ConA only, 19.2 ng/ml in ConA plus 10 nM ACTH, and no detectable IL-2 at ConA plus 10 uM ACTH. These results demonstrated that ACTH modulates IL-2 secretion from activated lymphocytes, which is both biphasic and concentration dependent.     

Splenic suppressing factor: purification and characterization of a factor suppressing thymidine incorporation into activated lymphocytes.

Suppressing activity upon the mitogen-activated lymphocytes was found in the supernatant (SUP) from the culture of mouse spleen, high-density subpopulation of thymocytes, and peritoneal exudate cells. Suppressing factor was obtained from the non-stimulated lymphocytes cultured for 24 to 36 hr with or without serum. Suppressing activity in the SUP was observed in the incorporation of 3H-thymidine, 3H-uridine, and 3H-leucine into Con A-activated lymphocytes or in the proliferation of L cells. Suppressing factor partially purified by Sephadex G-25 column chromatography was a heat-stable and dialyzable substance(s). Further purification and isolation of this factor by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography revealed that this was thymidine and thymidine monophosphate. The suppression in 3H-thymidine incorporation was attributed to the dilution effect of cold thymidine released from cultured lymphocytes.     

Factors controlling the growth of bovine primary and preantral follicles in perifusion culture

Tissue slices taken from the cortex of bovine ovaries were perifused with medium-199 supplemented with 1) no hormones, 2) insulin (200 IU/l), 3) estradiol-17beta (E2 100 ng/ml), 4) insulin plus E2 or 5) insulin, E2 plus human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 0.1 IU/ml). After 0, 3, 24 and 48 h of perifusion, cortical slices were either incubated with 3H-thymidine to determine the amount of 3H-thymidine incorporated into DNA, or prepared for histology. Prior to perifusion, cortical slices incorporated 3H-thymidine at a rate of 17.5 +/- 2.5 cpm/mg/h and contained 22.2 +/- 4.4 primary and 11.3 +/- 3.9 preantral follicles/slice. 3H-thymidine incorporation remained at 0 h levels, but by 48 h of perifusion the number of primary follicles per slice was reduced to 2.5 +/- 2.2, 2.5 +/- 2.5 and 3.3 +/- 1.2 for cortical slices exposed to either no hormones, insulin or E2, respectively (P < 0.05). Exposure to either insulin and E2 or insulin, E2 plus hCG resulted in an increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation with the number of primary follicles decreasing at 24 h (P < 0.05) then increasing at 48 h of perifusion (P < 0.05). The addition of hCG increased both 3H-thymidine incorporation and the number of primary follicles present after 48 h compared to treatment with insulin and E2 alone (P < 0.05). The interstitium was well maintained if insulin was present in the medium. These results indicate that 1) insulin is essential for the maintenance of the interstitial cells, 2) a synergistic interaction between insulin and E2 stimulates primordial follicles to grow into primary follicles and 3) hCG facilitates the growth-promoting actions of insulin and E2.     

Demonstration of high-affinity interleukin-2 receptors on B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells: functional and structural characterization

Functional and structural characteristics of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors on B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells were analyzed by a proliferation assay, IL-2 binding assay and cross-linking study. In the 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, purified B-CLL cells from four out of sixteen cases, in which the percentage of Tac antigen (Tac Ag) positive cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes ranged from 0 to 48.8%, responded to IL-2 (100 U/ml) after both 3- and 6-day incubation. No relationship was found between the responsiveness to IL-2 and the percentage of Tac Ag positive cells. In the radiolabeled IL-2 binding assay, however, B-CLL cells from all seven cases examined, including three cases with mitogenic response to IL-2 and four cases without mitogenic response, were shown to have both high- and low-affinity receptors. The number of high- and low-affinity receptors per cell ranged from 29-186 and from 420 to 1,800, respectively. Furthermore, with the affinity cross-linking method p55 (Tac Ag) and p70/75 were found even in cases without mitogenic response in their B-CLL cells. In conclusion, the B-CLL cells so far examined possessed high-affinity IL-2 receptors consisting of p55 and p70/75; nevertheless, this was not sufficient to respond to the mitogenic signal of IL-2.     

Adaptive response in irradiated human lymphocytes: radiobiological and genetical aspects

The adaptive response (AR) in human lymphocytes in different experimental protocols was investigated. The AR was found to be present in cells pre-exposed to 3 cGy of X-rays in G0, G1 and S phase as well as with tritiated water (4 muCi/ml) when the 'challenge' dose was given in G2. There was no AR after prior exposure of the cells in S phase to secondary irradiation from 70 GeV protons. The AR was not observed after preliminary X-irradiation of the lymphocytes in G0 and G1 and 'challenge' irradiation in G1. Cells from 6 patients with Down's syndrome were tested. At least 5 of them did not show the AR. The AR is considered to be a phenomenon of the antimutagenic aftereffect.     

DNA replication in mammalian cells after the action of physical, chemical or biological factors. VI. The recovery of DNA synthesis in a culture of irradiated cells

The kinetics of DNA synthesis restoration in cultured HeLa cells and in L-929 mouse fibroblasts irradiated by gamma-rays of 60Co with a dose of 10 Gy was studied. Early after irradiation the rate of DNA synthesis in HeLa cells measured with 3H-thymidine incorporation was seen to decrease. Two hours later the incorporation starts to increase to reach the control level 4 hours after irradiation and then becomes even higher than this level. The distribution of cells among phases of the cell cycle measured with flow cytometry undergoes changes. 4-6 hours after irradiation part of S-phase cells increased contributing presumably to the elevating of 3H-thymidine incorporation observed at this time. The restoration of the incorporation was suppressed by inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis--cycloheximide and actinomycin D. It is suggested that the processes of restoration of DNA synthesis in irradiated cells can be of inducible nature. In irradiated HeLa and L-929 cells the restoration of DNA synthesis is resistant to novobiocin, an inhibitor of DNA replication.     

The mechanisms of adaptive response. Estimation of capacity of human blood lymphocytes to radiation adaptive response using different criteria

Blood lymphocytes of 15 healthy donors have been investigated for the ability to decrease their radiosensitivity after treatment with low dose irradiation named radioinduced adaptive response (AR). The unstable chromosome aberrations were used to evaluate the radiosensitivity change after irradiation of cells with low adaptive dose (5 cGy) and subsequent high challenge dose (1.0 Gy) in comparison with the effect of challenge irradiation only. Three indexes were used: the frequency of cells with aberrations in all analyzed cells (A), the number of chromosome aberrations per cell (B) and the number of chromosome aberrations per one aberrant cell (C). It has been discovered that all donors examined can be divided into four groups: 1--individuals which cells did not show AR by all indexes used; 2--individuals which cells showed AR by indexes A and B, but not C; 3--AR was demonstrated by indexes B and C; 4--AR was confirmed by all three indexes. Generally accepted repair model for AR formation explains only the case of donor groups 3 and 4, but can not explain the mechanism leading to the case of group 2. For understanding this mechanism, the distribution of metaphases by the number of chromosome aberrations per cell was analyzes for each donor. It was shown that the part of cells without aberrations in group 2 donors increased significantly after treatment with the adaptive and challenge irradiation in comparison with that after irradiation with challenge dose only. The conclusion is that in this case AR is formed as a result of change in the frequency 0 cell class--population shift. The analogous shift was observed in the distributions of metaphases for all donors of the group 4, but was absent in the group 3 donors. The data obtained suggest that AR of blood lymphocytes might be a result of several processes: activation of submutational genome damage repair; population shifts manifested by the change in the part of undamaged cells; and, possibly, activation of apoptotic cell death. The complex nature of AR affects each of radiosensitivity evaluation criteria to a different extent.     

Action of hyperthermia on the early radiation reactions of HeLa cells in a stationary growth stage

A study was made of the influence of hyperthermia (42 degrees C, 30 min) after irradiation with a dose of 6 Gy on the permeability of cell membranes and the rate of incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA of HeLa cells at the stationary stage of the culture growth. Hyperthermia was shown to enhance the damaging effect of radiation on cells at this growth stage. It is suggested that this effect is connected with the impaired development of a series of early (during the first minutes and hours) adaptive reactions of HeLa cells, at the stationary stage of growth, to the effect of radiation.     

The 3H-thymidine incorporation into G0 human lymphocytes induced by low doses of UVC radiation

The 3H-thymidine incorporation in human lymphocytes of healthy donors induced by UVC radiation under doses 0.0008-60 J/m2 was investigated. It was shown that the incorporation of 3H-thymidine increases under doses in interval 0.1-20 and is constant under doses higher than 20 J/m2. Under doses in interval 0.006-0.03 J/m2 near a half of all samples had the level of incorporation increased in comparison with control samples. We connect the presence, absence or variability of this effect with individual peculiarities of cells and with different activity of cell subpopulations that are different on morphological and physiological characteristics. The hypothesis about the role of this factor in the influence of low doses of pathogenic agents (UVC and X-radiation, chemical compounds) on human lymphocytes is discussed.     

Transforming growth factors beta slow down cell-cycle progression in a murine interleukin-2 dependent T-cell line

Transforming growth factors beta (TGF-beta) inhibit the growth of a variety of cell types, including lymphocytes. The immunosuppressive effects of TGF-beta have been attributed to the interference of these molecules with the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-driven component of lymphocyte proliferation. In order to elucidate in more detail the effects of TGF-beta on IL-2-induced proliferation, we investigated the effects of porcine transforming growth factor beta 1 and 2 (pTGF-beta 1 and 2) on the IL-2-driven proliferation of a murine IL-2-dependent T-lymphocyte line (CTLL). The results showed that pTGF-beta 1 and 2 decreased 3H-thymidine incorporation in CTLL cells in a dose-dependent fashion (maximum decrease of 75-85%). Combined-time kinetic analysis of the effects of pTGF-beta on 3H-thymidine incorporation, cell growth, and cell-cycle distribution (monitored as DNA content distribution) revealed that, in the first 48 h of culture, pTGF-beta 1 increased the doubling time from 11.4 to 19.2 h without significantly affecting the cell-cycle distribution of CTLL cells. After 96 h of culture in the presence of pTGF-beta 1, cells started to accumulate in G0/G1, although at this time point 30% of the pTGF-beta 1-treated cells were still in S-G2/M. Furthermore, during the first 48 h, neither the expression of the 55 kd chain of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) nor the expression of the transferrin receptor (TfR) was affected by TGF-beta. After 72 h of culture in the presence of pTGF-beta 1, the expression of the IL-2R and TfR was decreased. The data suggest that in CTLL cells TGF-beta initially slows the progression of cells in all phases of cell cycle. In addition, the initial TGF-beta-mediated decrease of IL-2-induced 3H-thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation in CTLL cells is not due primarily to downregulation of the IL-2R and/or TfR.     

Stress signaling between human lymphocytes after induction of bystander effect by exposure to ionizing radiation in adaptive doses

We previously reported that the consequence of human lymphocytes irradiation by the adaptive doses (X-rays, 10 cGy) was a transposition of the homologous chromosome loci in the cell nucleus (FISH method); this phenomenon was mediated by the increase of nucleolus activity. They both are transmited to non-irradiated cells by the bystander effect (BE). We shown that the reaction of stress signaling is induced by the DNA fragments of irradiated lymphocytes. The study shows that after the inhibition of caspase 3 activity in irradiating lymphocytes or the blockade TLR9 in bystander cells the transposition was not observed. A signaling way of BE from irradiated lymphocytes apoptosis to bystander cells receptors is discussing.     

Genetic efficacy of low doses of ionizing radiation in chronically-irradiated small mammals

Earlier we have established the genetic effects of low dose chronic irradiation in bank vole (somatic and germ cells, embryos), in pond carp (fertilized eggs, embryos, fry) and in laboratory mice (somatic and germ cells) in the range of doses from near-background to 10 cGy. These low dose effects observed in mammals and fish are not expected from extrapolation of high dose experiments. For understanding reasons this discrepancy the comparative analysis of genetic efficiency of low dose chronic irradiation and the higher doses of acute irradiation was carried out with natural populations of bank vole which inhabited the two sites differing in ground of radionuclide deposition. For comparing efficiency the linear regression model of dose-effect curve was used. Dose-effect equations were obtained for animals from two chronically irradiated bank vole populations. The mean population absorbed doses were in the range 0.04-0.68 cGy, the main part of absorbed doses consisted of external radiation of animals exposed to 137Cs gamma-rays. Dose-effect equations for acute irradiation to 137Cs gamma-rays (10-100 cGy) were determined for the same populations. Comparison of genetic efficiency was made by extrapolation, using regression coefficient beta and doubling dose estimation. For chronic exposure the doubling doses calculated from low-dose experiments are 0.1-2 cGy and the doubling doses determined from high-dose experiments are in the range of 5-20 cGy. Our hypothesis that the doubling dose estimate is calculated in higher-dose ionizing radiation experiments should be much higher than the deduced from the low dose line regression equation was verified. The doubling dose estimates for somatic cells of bank vole and those for germ cells of laboratory mice are in close agreement. The radiosensitivity of bank vole chromosomes were shown is practically the same as that for human lymphocytes since doubling dose estimates for acute irradiation close to each other. For low LET radiation a higher genetic efficiency of chronic low doses in comparison with the higher doses of acute gamma-irradiation (137Cs source) was proved by three methods.     

Induction by gamma-radiation of DNA synthesis in radicle cells of germinating seeds of Pisum sativum l.

In radicle meristem cells of germinating seeds of the pea (Pisum sativum L) before the onset of replicative synthesis of DNA, irradiation with 2-3 krad of gamma-rays induced the incorporation of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR). Maximum isotope incorporation was noted during the first 2 hours after irradiation. Higher doses of radiation suppressed 3H-TdR incorporation. It was not seen after gamma-irradiation of air-dried seeds, nor after fast-neutron irradiation. The replication inhibitors hydroxyurea and 5-aminouracil had no effect on the gamma-induced incorporation of 3H-TdR, Whereas caffeine and acriflavine inhibited it to some extent. It is suggested that the gamma-radiation-induced incorporation of 3H-TdR in meristem cells during the pre-replicative period may be connected with repair phenomena.     

A galactose-inhibitable mitogen for human lymphocytes from the sponge axinella polypoides.

Of two galactose-binding hemagglutinins isolated from the sponge Axinella polypoides, axinella I was strongly mitogenic for human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and axinella II was not. Purified T cells responded strongly and B cells weakly to axinella I. Mitogenic response, as monitored by rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation on the third day of culture, was specifically inhibited by Dgalactose, Dfucose, raffinose, or 2-deoxy-D-galactose added within 5 hr of the mitogen. Mitogenic response was correlated with degree of lymphocyte agglutination. The effectiveness of a given sugar in inhibiting mitogenic response to axinella I paralleled its potency in inhibiting precipitation of lectin by blood group substances. If an inhibitory concentration of Dgalactose was add 24 to 40 hr after mitogenic activation, rate of 3H-thymadine uptake at 72 hr was two to twenty times above the rate induced in cultures to which no galactose was added. Dgalactose at a subinhibitory concentration (10mug/ml) enhanced 3H-thymidine incorportion incorporation induced by phytohemagglutinin or Con A, an effect reversible by Dgalactose. These findings suggest that axinella I has tow antagonistic effects on human lymphocytes: a) mitogenic activation and b) depressive activity resulting from depletion of essential galactose moieties.     

Changes in the EPR spectra of the nitrosyl complexes of blood proteins in the low-intensity whole-body irradiation of mice

After NO adding to mice blood and isolated erythrocytes ESR signal of nitrozyl complex HbNO (g = 2.07, g = 1.98) and NO-induced MetNg (g = 6.0) were registered. It was shown that the intensity of ESR spectra of these complexes increased after radiation of mice with a dose of 0.06, 0.6 and 5.4 cGy. Low-dose irradiation (0.6 and 0.06 cGy) caused the change in the form of ESR spectra of HbNO (g = 2.07), which is indicative of the shift from T-structure to R-structure and of the preferred formation of R-conformations of oxyhemoglobin in blood. It was found that dependence of NO-induced MetHb signal on irradiation dose is bimodal that may be connected with nonlinear response of the cells to irradiation and retarded adaptive response after radiation with low doses.     

Effect of prostaglandins on 3H-thymidine uptake into human epidermal cells in vitro.

Prostaglandins A2, B1, E1, E2, F1alpha and F2alpha were added to cultures of human epidermal cells (keratinocytes) for 24 hours at 37 degrees C, and the effects on 3H-thymidine uptake into DNA was measured. At 70 mu/ml all prostaglandins tested except PGF2alpha inhibited the uptake of 3-thymidine greater than 50%. However, at 35 mug/ml, PGA2 and PGB1 were the only two prostaglandins to show significant inhibition, 96% and 51% respectively. At 17.5 mug/ml only PGA2 caused substantial inhibition, 68%. In order to determine if the PGA2 action was mediated by membrane receptors propranolol, phentolamine, metiamide and prostynoic acid were added in conjunction with PGA2. None of the above receptor antagonists were able to reduce the PGA2-induced inhibition of 3H-thymidine uptake. These results indicate that the pre-incubation of human keratinocytes with prostaglandins for 24 hours results in a decrease of 3H-thymidine incorporation in DNA. The precise mechanism of action is unknown at this time.     

Relative biological effectiveness and dose rate effect of tritiated water on chromosomes in human lymphocytes and bone marrow cells

Tritriated water (HTO) is a major toxic effluent from the nuclear power industry, that is released into the environment in large quantities. The low dose radiation effect and dose rate effect of HTO on human lymphocytes and bone marrow cells have not been well studied. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the HTO dose-response relationship for chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes and bone marrow cells at low in vitro radiation doses ranging from 0.1 to 1 Gy. Lymphocytes (G₀ stage) and bone marrow cells were incubated for 10–150 min with HTO at a dose rate of 2cGy/min (555 MBq/ml). The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of HTO was calculated with respect to ₆₀Co γ-rays for the induction of dicentric and centric ring chromosomes at low radiation doses. The RBE value for HTO β-rays relative to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays was 2.7 for lymphocytes and 3.1 for chromatid aberrations in bone marrow cells. Lymphocytes were also chronically exposed to HTO for 6.7–80 h at dose rates of 0.5 cGy/min (138.5 MBq/ml) and 0.02 cGy/min (5.6 MBq/ml). There was a 71.5% decrease in the yield of dicentrics and centric rings at the dose rate of 0.02 cGy/min, indicating a clear dose rate effect of HTO. The RBE value for HTO relative to ¹³⁷Cs γ-rays was 2.0 at a dose rate of 0.02 cGy/min, suggesting that low HTO dose rates produce no increase of the RBE values and that the values may be constant between 2 and 3 within these dose rates. These results should prove useful in assessment of the health risk for humans exposed to low levels of HTO.     

Comparison of cytogenic response of human lymphocytes to in vivo and in vitro exposure to low doses of gamma-rays. Unstable chromosomal exchanges detected by FPG techniques

On peripheral lymphocytes of eight cancer patients undergone whole-body therapeutic irradiation (at daily dose of 10 cGy up to total dose of 50 cGy of 60Co gamma-rays) the dose-response of unstable chromosome exchanges (dicentrics and centric rings) was studied. This dose response fitted well linear function. The lower slope of dose-response curve was found for in vivo irradiated lymphocytes as compared to the dose response curve obtained for in vitro irradiated lymphocytes of the same patients. This finding seems to provide evidence that in case of protracted irradiation of individuals an absorbed dose could be underestimated if for biological dosimetry an in vitro dose response curve for unstable chromosome aberrations is used as referent one.     

Unscheduled incorporation of thymidine in ultraviolet-irradiated human lymphocytes

The nature, degree, and kinetics of unscheduled thymidine incorporation previously shown to occur in 90 % of irradiated lymphocytes was stud-incorporation was sever ely depressed i n t h e presence of 10(-4) M acriflavine and by low temperature, but was unaffected by 10(-3) M hydroxyurea or caffeine. Over a dose range of 25 to 400 ergs/mm2, the uptake of thymidine was increased by a factor of only 1.6, although the survival of lymphocytes, measured 5 days after irradiation, decreased by almost two orders of magnitude. (The survival curve suggests that 90% of the lymphocytes have a D0 of 35 ergs/mm(2) and 10 % have a D0 of 250 ergs/mm(2).) After exposure to 25 ergs/mm(2), over 70 % of the cells survived for 5 days in culture; moreover, cells which had been stimulated by this dose to incorporate thymidine transformed and divided after exposure to phytohema-glutinin. The final uptake of thymidine was significantly greater when a total dose of 75 ergs/mm(2) was fractionated into three doses of 25 ergs/mm(2) given at six hourly intervals than when it was given as a single dose. The degree of thymidine incorporation and the fraction of leukemic cells labeled were not significantly different from those in normal lymphocytes.