Chronic low-dose γ-radiation exposure and the alteration of the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in residents of radioactive buildings

Purpose: To elucidate the immunological change incurred in a human population by protracted γ-radiation exposure at home environment. Materials and methods: An examination on the CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and HLA-DR⁺ lymphocyte subsets was arranged for 196 exposed subjects with mean excess cumulative dose of 169 mSv during 2-13 years of exposure. Another 55 close relatives of the exposed subjects were recruited as the non-exposed reference population. Results: The mean percentage of CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes, HLA-DR⁺ lymphocytes and the CD4⁺ /CD8⁺ ratios in the exposed subjects (35.5, 19.9 and 1.51 respectively) were significantly lower than those of reference individuals (38.0, 22.6 and 1.72; p=0.02, 0.003, and 0.03 respectively), while the CD8⁺ in total counts of the exposed was moderately increased above that of the reference populations (p=0.1). By ANOVA analysis, the percentages of CD4⁺ and HLA-DR⁺ subsets were significantly associated with radiation dose (p=0.0046, 0.003), while CD4⁺ /CD8⁺ ratios were moderately associated with dose (p=0.073). HLA-DR⁺ counts were significantly and positively associated with duration of relocation from radioactive apartments (p=0.029). Conclusions: Significant immunological effects were observed in those who had received chronic low-dose radiation exposure.