Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

INFLUENCE OF T-CELLULAR IMMUNITY ON THE VENTILATION FUNCTION OF THE LUNG IN COPD PATIENTS CLEAN-UP WORKERS OF THE CHORNOBYL NPP ACCIDENT IN REMOTE
POST-ACCIDENT PERIOD
[Article in Ukrainian]
K. D. Bazyka*
State Institution “National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Melnуkova str., 53, Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine
*Corresponding author: Kostiantyn D. Bazyka, е-mail: kosncrm@ukr.net

The complex pulmonology and immunological study of 122 COPD patients who were undergone combined (external and internal) exposure due participation in clean-up works after accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was carried out in the remote post-accident period. The aim of the work was to study a relationship of changes between cellular immunity and ventilation disorders in COPD patients clean-up workers of the Chornobyl NPP accident in the remote post-accident period. The first group included COPD patients clean-up workers of the Chornobyl NPP accident (48 patients), together with reconvalescents of acute radiation sickness syndrome in 1986. Doses of radiation exposure ranged from 500 to 1430 mSv. The second group — COPD patients clean-up workers of the Chornobyl NPP accident too with doses below 500 mSv (36 patients). The comparison group included COPD patients who were not undergone radiation exposure (38 patients). The linkage between the state of T-cellular immunity and ventilation function of the lungs in COPD patients who were undergone radiation exposure during the Chornobyl NPP accident clean-up works was confirmed. The higher expression of CD4+, CD3+ cells and the CD4+/8+ were corresponding the high rates of lung ventilation function. The influence of dose-dependent changes in cell-mediated immunity, particularly content of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes onn the severity of obstructive ventilation disorder under doses below 500 mSv was established. At doses higher than 500 mSv in COPD patients with significant violations in the remote period after the exposure occurs distinct immune system depression.

Key words: ionizing radiation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ventilation function of the lungs, cellular immunity, Chornobyl NPP accident.

Probl. Radiac. Med. Radiobiol. 2012. Issue 17. P.106–116.