Effects of Radon From Hot Springs on Lymphocyte Subsets in Peripheral Blood
Chunnan Piao,
Mei Tian,
Hongjun Gao,
Yanxiao Gao,
Jianlei Ruan,
Lina Wu,
Gang Gao,
Lirong Yi,
Jianxiang Liu
Affiliations
Chunnan Piao
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Mei Tian
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Hongjun Gao
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Emergency General Hospital, Beijing, China
Yanxiao Gao
School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Jianlei Ruan
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Lina Wu
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Gang Gao
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Lirong Yi
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Jianxiang Liu
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Objective: To analyze changes in immune functions by detecting lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of residents in the vicinity of radon from hot springs. Methods: Two groups were randomly selected; 61 residents in the vicinity of the hot springs were assigned to the radon group, and 51 residents with a similar lifestyle and habits but no contact with hot springs were assigned to the control group. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets (CD3 + , CD4 + CD8 − , CD4 − CD8 + , CD4 + /CD8 + , and TCR/CD3) in the 2 groups were evaluated on a FACS Aria flow cytometer. The absolute values of lymphocytes (LYMPH#) and percentages of lymphocytes (LYMPH%) were measured by an automatic blood analyzer. Results: In the radon group, the numbers of CD3 + ( Z = −0.140, P > .05) and CD4 + CD8 − ( Z = −0.964, P > .05) T cells were higher, as compared with the controls, but this difference was not significant. In addition, the number of CD4 − CD8 + ( t = −2.141, P .05) and LYMPH% (Z = −0.835, P > .05) showed no significant change. Conclusion: Radon-rich hot springs could alter the proportions of lymphocyte subsets and possibly affect immunologic functions.
