Transcriptional activity of genes regulating T-helpers differentiation in the accidentally exposed population of the Southern Urals

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the expression of the TBX21, RORC, GATA3, MAPK8, and STAT3 genes responsible for the regulation of the differentiation of various T-helper subpopulations in individuals chronically exposed to radiation. The object of the study was peripheral blood cells obtained from 120 people chronically exposed to radiation in a wide range of doses on the Techa River. The mean cumulative absorbed dose to red bone marrow in the examined exposed individuals was 742.7+/-78.6 mGy (dose range: 73.5-3516.1 mGy), in the comparison group – 17.4+/-2.2 mGy (dose range: 0.0-55.5 mGy). The subpopulation composition of T-helpers (Th1, Th2, Th17) was analyzed by flow cytofluorimetry. The relative mRNA content of the TBX21, RORC, GATA3, NFKB1, MAPK8, and STAT3 genes was estimated by RT-PCR. The study made it possible to note a decrease in the relative number of T-helper 2 in the populations of T-helper central memory in the group of chronically exposed people compared to the comparison group. In the population of T-helpers of central memory, a statistically significant increase in the relative number of T-helpers 1 was shown, depending on the accumulated absorbed dose to red bone marrow. No changes in mRNA expression of the studied genes were observed. The analysis of the relationship between the expression of GATA3, MAPK8, STAT3, RORC, TBX21 mRNA and the relative number of cells in subpopulations of T-helper types 1, 2, and 17 in the examined people did not reveal statistically significant patterns.