IMMUNOLOGICAL AND GENETIC PROFILE OF THE CHILD POPULATION OF THE NITRATE GEOCHEMICAL PROVINCE

BACKGROUND: Significant pollution of groundwater with nitrates, causing a negative impact on the health of different groups of the population. The AIM of the study is to study the features of the immune status and genetic profile of the child population of the nitrate geochemical province (on the example of the Perm Region). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 78 preschool children living in territories with different nitrate content in drinking water from underground drinking water sources were examined. The comparison group consisted of 43 children consuming drinking water of satisfactory quality in terms of nitrate content; the observation group consisted of 35 children consuming drinking water with an increased nitrate content. The assessment of the level of nitrates in household drinking water, identification of the concentration of N-nitrosamines and nitrate ions in the biological media (blood, urine) of children was carried out. The technology of flow cytometry and enzyme immunoassay was used to evaluate the immunoregulation parameters by PCR polymorphism of genes. RESULTS: It was found that the nitrate content in drinking water in the observation area is statistically significant (p0.001) 2.8 times higher than the values detected in the comparison area. It was found that in the children of the observation group, the content of N-nitrosodiethylamine in the blood was statistically significantly increased (p=0.044-0.049) by 2.3 times, and the nitrate ion in the urine by 1.6 times relative to the values detected in the children of the comparison group. In the children of the observation group, a statistically significant (p=0.001-0.039) decrease in the number of NKT, an increase in the level of CD3+CD25+-, CD3+CD95+-cells, bax, IL17, Annexin V-FITC+PI-- and Annexin V-FITC+PI+-lymphocytes was revealed compared with the results recorded in children of the comparison group. Polymorphism of candidate genes controlling tumor formation (CYP1A1rs1048943, MMP9rs17576, PPARDrs2016520) was revealed. CONCLUSION: It was found that in children with chronic low-level nitrate exposure (at the level of 1.2 MPC) with drinking water from underground sources, there is an excess content of N-nitrosodiethylamine and nitrate ion in the urine in the blood, which determines the features of the immune response and genetic profile.