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Persistent infections and their relationship with selected oncologic and non-tumor pathologies
Anatolii A Chumak1, Irina V Abramenko, Nadia I Bilous
1S.I. Research Centre for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine. papatolia@mail.ru
Journal of Immunotoxicology
|June 4, 2010
Summary
Viral infections like hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can worsen health conditions and promote leukemia in Chernobyl survivors. Ionizing radiation exposure may also influence these outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Radiation Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevalence was previously found to be 3.45% in healthy blood donors.
- Chernobyl NPP accident sufferers experienced acute radiation syndrome (ARS).
- High incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) observed among Chernobyl sufferers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze HCV and CMV prevalence in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) due to the Chernobyl NPP accident.
- To investigate the association between viral infections and somatic diseases or malignancies in exposed and non-exposed individuals.
- To explore homology between immunoglobulins (Igs) in CLL patients and antiviral/antimicrobial Igs.
Main Methods:
- Serological analyses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against HCV and CMV.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses of Ig heavy-chain variable (IgHV) genes in CLL patients.
- Comparison of viral prevalence and disease incidence between Chernobyl accident sufferers (cleanup workers, residents, NPP workers, convalescent patients) and IR-non-exposed controls.
Main Results:
- Highest HCV (27.2%) and CMV (85.6%) prevalence observed in convalescent ARS patients.
- HCV prevalence in cleanup workers ranged from 11-25% and was associated with increased incidence of somatic diseases like thyroiditis, goiter, hypertension, Type 1 diabetes, and chronic hepatitis/gastritis.
- CMV association found with chronic gastritis, arthritis, and bronchitis in cleanup workers and controls.
- Clear delineation in pathology incidence based on 1986 IR exposure, irrespective of CMV status.
- Significant homology found between some IgHV genes in CLL patients and Igs against infectious agents, with no difference between IR-exposed and non-exposed groups.
Conclusions:
- Past or ongoing viral infections (CMV, HCV) can aggravate clinical courses of somatic diseases and promote malignancies like CLL.
- These outcomes may be modulated by prior exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Homology in IgHV genes suggests a potential link between immune responses to infections and CLL development in Chernobyl survivors.
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