Abstract
The period between divisions of a cell may be estimated using radiation-induced chromosome damage as a marker. Chromosome exchanges producing dicentric chromosomes prevent chromatid separation at mitosis, leading to cell death. The frequency of cells with this type of damage over time after radiation gives an estimate of cell lifespan. Using statistics developed to estimate lymphocyte lifespans in adults following radiotherapy, published data from individuals exposed to radiation in Hiroshima (numbers of cases, n=60), in the Ukraine after Chernobyl (n=25) and Goiania in Brazil (n=14) were analysed. The table illustrates lymphocyte lifespan results in years. Children would appear to have lymphocytes with shorter intermitotic times than adults. This observation is important with respect to the pattern of HIV infection in children for two reasons. Firstly the virus will be limited to infecting cells at a lower rate than in an adult, secondly viral cytotoxicity will be less damaging to the paediatric immune system in early stages of the disease.
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Michie, C. 351 CHILDRENS1 LYMPHOCYTES HAVE A SHORTER LIFESPAN THAN ADULTS'- RELEVENCE TO HIV BIOLOGY. Pediatr Res 36, 61 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00351
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00351
