Pattern of chromosomal aberrations persisting over 30 years in a Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident survivor: study using mFISH

Abstract

The long-term in vivo cytogenetic effects of high-dose radiation exposure can be traced in accidentally irradiated persons, and particularly useful for developing strategies of monitoring and therapy of such patients, as well as for elucidating the fundamental aspects of hematopoiesis and radiobiology. Using 24-color fluorescent in situ hybridization (mFISH), we analysed the frequency and the spectrum of chromosomal aberrations (CA) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident victim 30, 31, 32 and 33 years after acute accidental exposure to high-dose gamma radiation of the whole body. Totally, 993 metaphase cells were analyzed (or 219, 272, 258, 244 cells each year), of which 297 were aberrant. Our study demonstrated a constant aberrant cell frequency at 28% in 2016–2018 years, while in 2019, a significant increase up to 35% occurred due to contribution of significantly elevated frequency of simple aberrations in the absence of evident recent genotoxic factors. Four clonal aberrations were detected, three of which persisted for more than one year at a frequency up to 2.5% of analyzed cells. The distribution of 731 breakpoints per individual chromosomes was nearly proportional to their physical length, excepting Chromosomes 13 and 20, which were significantly breakpoint-deficient compared to the genome median rate. Monitoring of the long-term effects on chromosomal instability caused by radiation exposure is important for understanding and predicting the long-term effects of ionizing radiation.

Preleukemic Fusion Genes Induced via Ionizing Radiation

“…From that perspective, the key factor for individual risk assessment of radiation-induced leukemia is whether the individual is a carrier of clonally expanded preleukemic cells. The multi-color fluorescent in situ hybridization (mFISH) of peripheral blood lymphocytes has recently revealed a significant increase in frequencies of aberrant clones (reciprocal translocations and inversions) of in vivo irradiated patients (accidentally or therapeutically) [ 132 , 133 ]. Observation of clonal translocations in these patients suggests that a single stem cell of an adult can generate long-lived myeloid and lymphoid progeny.…”

“…Observation of clonal translocations in these patients suggests that a single stem cell of an adult can generate long-lived myeloid and lymphoid progeny. Nikitina et al [ 132 ] has repeatedly for many years analyzed the frequency and the spectrum of persistent chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident victims after acute accidental exposure to high-dose γ-radiation. This study detected four aberrant cell clones, each carrying one balanced translocation at a frequency of up to 2.5% of the analyzed cells, namely t(4;8), t(14;15), t(2;2), and t(1;15).…”

War and health crisis: humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine

“… Rebuild and sustain key health services by collaborating with partners and increasing the role of health ministries. Not forgetting the Catastrophe of Chernobyl nuclear power, which happened on Saturday, 26 April 1986, near the city of Pripyat in northern Soviet Ukraine 5 to avoid the newly emission of radiation after entering the Russian army. Urgent pacification in any form of the state of war between Ukraine and Russia because Ukraine is one of the essential natural resources for Europe of grain, wheat, iron, coal, manganese, and natural gas.…”

“…Not forgetting the Catastrophe of Chernobyl nuclear power, which happened on Saturday, 26 April 1986, near the city of Pripyat in northern Soviet Ukraine 5 to avoid the newly emission of radiation after entering the Russian army.…”