[Immune system status under effect of low levels of ionizing radiation:studies within the 10 kilometer zone of accident at Chernobyl nuclear plant].

A study was made of the influence of high radiation contamination within the ten-kilometer zone of Chernobyl disaster on the structure and function of the immune system of (DBA x C57B1)F1 and DBA mice. The cumulative radiation doses with respect to gamma-radiation, were 0.024, 0.168 and 0.336 Gy. T-lymphocyte proliferation was shown the be activated with all radiation doses mentioned above but with doses of 0.024 and 0.168 Gy, helper T lymphocytes, and with 0.336 Gy, suppressor N-lymphocytes were primarily activated. So, in the former case, some effector functions of the immunity were activated, and in the latter, inhibited. It is concluded that certain hyperstimulation of the lymphoid cell formation (including the increase in T-suppressors), that is induced by long-term exposure to low-level radiation, triggers the mechanisms of autonomous regulation of the system that suppress the radiation-induced lymphocyte proliferation and inhibit the effector functions of the immunity.