Affects of ionizing radiation on T-cell population lymphocyte: A risk factor of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome is observed mostly in Ukrainian children and may be related to adverse health effects as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The aim of this study was to determine status of T-cell population lymphocytes in children with clinical symptom of irritable bowel syndrome. The test population consisted of 95 participants: 75 rural patients aged 4 to 18 who lived in a contaminated area exposed to natural environmental radiation with clinical symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (categorized in three groups) and 20 healthy urban participants from Kiev aged 5 to 15 as control group. Internal radiation activity has been measured by γ-ray spectrometry. Peripheral blood leukocytes were analyzed for T-lymphocytes subset such as T-lymphocytes (CD3+), T-helper (CD4+) and T-cytotoxic (CD8+) and then CD4/CD8 ratio was calculated. Percentage of CD3+ and CD4+ in all study groups decreased significantly in comparison to control group (p < 0.001). Percentage of CD8+ increased significantly in all study groups in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). The CD4/CD8 ratio decreased significantly all study groups in comparison to control group (p < 0.001). Cellular immune status of study groups that are residing in a contaminated area has changed. Our data have demonstrated that this change may be related to a higher incidence of children with irritable bowel syndrome.