Apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes and mutations in the gene of the T-cell receptor in survivors of chronic radiation exposure

Immunological status of chronically exposed persons with increased level of TCR mutations

Dose- and dose rate-dependent increase in the number of СD3⁺СD16⁺CD56⁺-lymphocytes and lysosomal activity of neutrophils was noted in peripheral blood of the Techa riverside residents with increased level of TCR gene-mutated T lymphocytes long after chronic exposure of predominantly red bone marrow (mean exposure dose was 0.89 ± 0.09 Gy, individual dose range was 0.09-1.96 Gy). The performed analysis showed that the above-mentioned immunological changes could be a response to an increase in the frequency of mutations (TCR mutations in particular) in the cells of exposed individuals.