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

doi:10.1177/1559325820902338

Effects of Radon From Hot Springs on Lymphocyte Subsets in Peripheral Blood

Dose Response. 2020 Feb 3;18(1):1559325820902338. doi: 10.1177/1559325820902338. eCollection 2020 Jan-Mar.

Authors

Chunnan Piao¹, Mei Tian¹, Hongjun Gao², Yanxiao Gao³, Jianlei Ruan¹, Lina Wu¹, Gang Gao¹, Lirong Yi¹, Jianxiang Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
² Department of Clinical Laboratory, Emergency General Hospital, Beijing, China.
³ School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

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) T cells was significantly lower in the radon group. Furthermore, the average ratios of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ (t = -2.201, P < .05) and TCR/CD3 (t = 2.047, P < .05) cells were significantly higher in the radon group than in the controls. Compared with the control group, the LYMPH# (t = -0.485, 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.

Keywords: hormesis; low dose; lymphocyte subsets; peripheral blood; radon hot springs.