Micronuclei in human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of X-rays and alpha particles

0380755 - ÚJF 2013 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Staaf, E. - Brehwens, K. - Haghdoost, S. - Nievaart, S. - Pachnerová Brabcová, Kateřina - Czub, J. - Braziewicz, J. - Wojcik, A.
Micronuclei in human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to mixed beams of X-rays and alpha particles.
Radiation and Environmental Biophysics. Roč. 51, č. 3 (2012), s. 283-293. ISSN 0301-634X. E-ISSN 1432-2099
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10480505
Keywords : Micronuclei * LET * Combined exposure * Mixed beams * Alpha particles * X-rays
Subject RIV: BO - Biophysics
Impact factor: 1.754, year: 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyse the cytogenetic effect of exposing human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to a mixed beam of alpha particles and X-rays. Whole blood collected from one donor was exposed to different doses of alpha particles (Am-241), X-rays and a combination of both. Micronuclei (MN) in binucleated PBL were scored as the endpoint. Moreover, the size of MN was measured. The results show that exposure of PBL to a mixed beam of high and low linear energy transfer radiation led to significantly higher than expected frequencies of MN. The measurement of MN size did not reveal any differences between the effect of alpha particles and mixed beam. In conclusion, a combined exposure of PBL to alpha particles and X-rays leads to a synergistic effect as measured by the frequency of MN. From the analysis of MN distributions, we conclude that the increase was due to an impaired repair of X-ray-induced DNA damage.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0211384