Radiation hormesis. A new concept in radiological science

Low-dose ionizing radiation caused definite stimulation of immune reactions both in humans and mice. The PFC reaction in response to SRBC immunization and the NK activity of the splenocytes were significantly enhanced after low-dose whole body irradiation. Activation of the T lymphocytes, especially the TH, with increased production of IL-2, might be a critical step in the whole process of immunoenhancement. A single dose of 75 mGy X-rays caused significant lowering of hypothalamic M-Enk content as well as serum corticosterone level. The increased serum testosterone level would exert an inhibitory influence on the CRF-ACTH-CS system to keep the blood corticosterone at a lower than normal level which might facilitate the immune reactions in the SRBC-immunized animals. The increased catecholamines in the spleen would probably reinforce this effect resulting in immunoenhancement. Low-dose ionizing radiation caused increased repair of the genetic material at both the molecular and subcellular levels. The UDS of human and murine lymphocytes was augmented by single or continuous low-dose irradiation. The stimulation of DNA polymerase activity might be responsible for such effects. Exposure to very small doses of low LET radiation could induce in different tissues an adaptive response which alleviated chromosome damage caused by subsequent larger dose radiation. Such an adaptive response could be induced both in vivo and in vitro in different animal species. The induced adaptive response faded away after 3 cell cycles could be re-induced by a second exposure to low-dose radiation. The mechanism of the inductive process needs further study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)