CHANGES IN RELATIVE CYTOKINE LEVELS AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS OF AUTOPHAGY IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES IN THE REMOTE PERIOD AFTER IRRADIATION.

OBJECTIVE

to assess the relative levels of cytokines and the functional state of autophagy in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cleanup workers of the Chornobyl accident.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A total of 42 male patients aged 51-77 (61,35 ± 5,21) years were examined. They included: the main group - 42 cleanup workers of the Chornobyl accident aged 56-63 (60,16 ± 1,73) years; and the control group - 11 persons aged 51-77 (64,72 ± 9,24) years, who did not participate in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chornobyl accident and did not live in radioactively contaminated areas. Analysis of relative levelsof cytokines, NFκB p65, and autophagy parameters in peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes was performed using flowcytometry.

RESULTS

The decrease in the relative levels of IL1β, IL2, and IFNγ and an increase in IL6, TNFα, and TGFβ in thePB lymphocytes of the cleanup workers of the Chornobyl accident were detected. Correlation analysis showed thepresence of a relationship between the levels of the studied cytokines. The relative level of NFκB p65, the basallevel of the key autophagy protein LC3B and after the addition of chloroquine diphosphate in the PB lymphocytesof the cleanup workers of the Chornobyl accident were similar to those in the control group. The decrease in thecapacity and responsiveness of the autophagic flux in the PB lymphocytes of the cleanup workers of the Chornobylaccident was noted. Direct correlations were found between the basal level of the LC3B protein and IL4 and IL6 inthe PB lymphocytes of the cleanup workers of the Chornobyl accident.

CONCLUSIONS

According to preliminary data, the detected changes in the cleanup workers of the Chornobyl accident may contribute to the activation of pathological inflammatory processes and autoimmune reactions due toimpaired lymphocyte function and inflammatory reactions due to a shift in the balance between cytokines and positive regulation of their synthesis.