The association of ROS levels in blood cells with age, past radiation exposure, and IL6R gene polymorphisms (CCR3P.211)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cell-mediated immune responses, although overproduction and excessive accumulation of ROS may also enhance risks of inflammation-related diseases. To address these concerns, we have developed an assay system to determine ROS (H2O2 and O2.-) levels in blood cells to investigate the effects age and of radiation exposure on ROS levels in the blood cells obtained from 2,789 Japanese atomic-bomb survivors, as well as associations between intracellular ROS levels and immune-/inflammation-related gene polymorphisms. The results showed that H2O2 levels in monocyte and granulocyte fractions increased with age (P