[The role of genetic factors in human radioresistance]

The role of genetic factors in the development of chronic radiation disease (CRD), mostly caused by occupational external gamma-exposure, was evaluated. The data of molecular genetic survey of a cohort of 985 workers at the nuclear power plant, the Mayak PA, were analyzed. Among the genetic markers tested, an association between the haptoglobin (Hp) genetic system and the development of CRD was established. It was demonstrated that the contribution of genetic factors to the CRD onset was realized not within the whole, but in a relatively narrow dose interval (70 to 400 cGy), i.e., was relative. Furthermore, at equal irradiation doses, relatively higher risk of CRD was observed among the Hp 2-2 phenotype carriers (1.96) compared to lower risk among the Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 phenotype carriers (0.64). It was shown that with the increase of the irradiation dose, genotypic differences in the CRD frequency decreased to the point of their complete disappearance. Comparison of the roles of the genetic factors in the onset of such deterministic irradiation effect as CRD, with their roles in the onset of lung cancer in tobacco smokers revealed similar patterns. A scheme of the relationships between the effector intensity and the differences in the genetically determined radioresistance is presented. The data obtained do not support the idea that the survivals of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the most radioresistant individuals, who are not representative for evaluating the radiation risk.