The frequency of TCR mutant lymphocytes and the state of the thiol-disulfide system in nuclear industry workers

In previous paper we presented analysis of the frequency of TCR-mutant lymphocytes in nuclear professionals had worked with ionizing radiation sources for about 26 years. Mean cumulative radiation dose to the employee was 101 mSv. We found that in 19% of the professionals the mutant lymphocytes level was higher than in the control group of unexposed people of the same age. In other examined people and in the control group the mutant lymphocytes level was within the norm. To understand the impact of the thiol/disulfide system on the somatic mutagenesis two groups of 25 exposed people in each were formed. The group 1 was composed of the workers with enhanced frequency of mutant lymphocytes, in the workers of the group 2 the frequency was within the norm. The average content of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione in blood plasma was four times higher in both groups of exposed professionals than in unexposed controls, and no difference in the GSH and GSSG level in all exposed employees regardless the content of mutant lymphocytes was found. Mean GSH/GSSG ratio in exposed professionals corresponds to the control value. The obtained data allow us to suppose that the glutathione system participates in the organism adaptation to ionizing radiation. It is possible to suggest that enhanced level of GSH and GSSG in blood plasma of all exposed examined professionals is due to antioxidant induced hyper-activation of radiation protection.