Title: Chromosome%20aberration%20analysis%20in%20peripheral%20lymphocytes%20of%20Gulf%20and%20Balkans%20war%20veterans
1Chromosome aberration analysis in peripheral
lymphocytes of Gulf and Balkans war veterans
- H.Schröder, A.Heimers, R.Frentzel-Beyme, A.Schott
and W.Hoffmann
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 103211-219 (2003)
2Human T-lymphocyte metaphase
Karyotype 46, XY
3Chromosome- type aberrations distinguishable
cytologically at mitosis
centric ring chromosome and acentric fragment
dicentric chromosome and acentric fragment
Two normal chromosomes
4Aberrant metaphase
Metaphase with two dicentric chromosomes and two
acentric fragments
5Exclusion criteria
- Previous radiotherapy and/or medical use of
cytotoxic drugs - Greater than average exposure to diagnostic
medical radiation - Heavy smokers (more than 20 Cigarettes a day over
more than 10 years) - Previous work in the nuclear industry or other
badgemonitored occupation
62nd division metaphase with sister chromatid
exchanges (SCE)
7Results of the chromosome aberration analysis
8Result of the chromosome aberration analysis
after grouping
Group Number of cells analysed Number of dic cR Mean 95CI- 95CI
Gulf, subjects (N16) 15963 40 0,0025 0,0018 0,0034
Balkans (N2) 2005 4 0,0020 0,0005 0,0051
Gulf and Balkans (N1) 1002 3 0,0030 0,0006 0,0088
9Distribution of the observed dicentric
chromosomes and centric ring chromosomes
10Very rare findings
- Multicentric ring chromosome in a tetraploid
metaphase, most probably consting of 4
chromosomes - One metaphase with pulverized chromosomal material
11Results, summary
- Method of chromosome aberration analysis is both
sensitive and specific - 5-fold elevation of dic and cR compared to the
control (2.5 per 1000 M vs 0.5 per 1000 M) - elevation is highly significant
- significant elevation of dic and cR also in 9 of
the 19 individual cases - distribution of dic and cR deviates from Poisson
- very rare finding of a multi-cR in a tetraploid
metaphase and pvz chromosome material - biological half life of dic is 3.5 years,
contradicts to an acute radiation event
12Results of the SCE-Assay