Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

Role of VEGF-A gene in the formation of late effects after the Chornobyl accident

I. M. Ilyenko
State Institution “National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Melnykov str., 53, Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine

Objective. To characterize the VEGF-A gene expression and its main effects on immune cells in the Chornobyl NPP accident clean$up workers.
Materials and Methods. VEGF-A gene expression and its main effects on immune cells were studied in 55 persons by a real$time PCR analysis and immunophenotyping of immune competent cells.
Results. Disorders of regulation of neoangiogenesis were found in remote period upon radiation exposure. Elevated levels of VEGF-A gene expression correlated with TP53 gene expression in the ChNPP accident clean$up workers.
Correlation was established between the percentage of the immunoregulatory T-cell subpopulations and VEGF-A expressing in the group of exposed persons and there was demonstrated a suppression of specific immune response of CD4$8+ T cells. Correlation between the percentage of CD4+25+ cells and radiation dose in a group of Chornobyl clean-up workers is not related to VEGF_A expression, so this type of immune response can be regarded as a manifestation of long-term effects after exposure.
Conclusions. Some parameters were identified characterizing the state and abnormalities of the “immunity-angiogenesis” system. Those parameters could be promising in prediction of neoplastic process in remote period upon radiation exposure.

Key words: Chornobyl, ionizing radiation, VEGF-A gene expression, immune system.

Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology. 2013;18:190–199.