Radiosensitivity of peripheral blood B cells in pigs

Abstract

Swine are here introduced to biodosimetry in an attempt to develop a large animal model allowing for comparison of in vitro experiments with the in vivo processes occurring after exposure to gamma radiation. This work investigates the radiosensitivity of the B cell compartment in peripheral blood. Four-week-old piglets were irradiated using the whole body protocol or full blood samples were irradiated in vitro in the dose range of 0-10 Gy. Relative radioresistance of B cell subpopulations and subsets was determined by measuring their relative numbers in leukocyte preparations at selected time intervals after irradiation using two color immunophenotyping and flow cytometry. Porcine B cells represent the most radiosensitive lymphocyte population in peripheral blood. Among B cell subpopulations and subsets investigated, the CD21 + SWC7 + and CD21 + CD1 + cells are highly radiosensitive and possess biodosimetric potential, at least in the range of low doses. Differences between cultures irradiated in vitro and lymphocyte dynamics in peripheral blood of irradiated animals clearly document the limits of in vitro data extrapolation in biodosimetry. We have shown that pigs can successfully be used in radiobiology and experimental biodosimetry due mainly to their availability, size and a relatively broad spectrum of available immunoreagents for lymphocyte classification.

Ginseng, a Potentially Therapeutic Drug in γ-Irradiated Whole Blood Culture

“…The results of present study illustrated that mean IgG and IgM plasma levels after irradiation (6h) were significantly higher than those of control group which may be attributed to activation of B-cell. Sinkorova et al (2009) stated that the peripheral B-cell compartment in pigs has proved highly radiosensitive both in vivo and in vitro and B lymphocytes apparently represent the most radiosensitive lymphoid population. The higher concentrations of IgG in plasma in respect to radiation exposure might be explained by inherent features of IgG.…”

Sensitivity of porcine peripheral blood leukocytes to gamma irradiation in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo

“…This is why blood lymphocytes represent a convenient and easily accessible material for biodosimetric studies. The majority of studies have focused on radiation-induced changes in relative lymphocyte number within human blood samples (Louagie et al 1999, Wilkins et al 2002, Schmitz et al 2007, Sinkorova et al 2009), while the very important question concerning total leukocyte counts in peripheral blood has remained unresolved. Our experimental data in pigs are in agreement with the available literature that reports high radiosensitivity of mammalian lymphocytes (Dutreix et al 1987, Vokurkova et al 2006, Tichy et al 2007).…”