Immunological disturbances in victims of Chernobyl accident aftereffects and an analysis of their nature

Results of immunological investigation of the Chernobyl accident victims (personnel of APP, "liquidators", natives of radionuclide-contaminated areas) are presented. At the late time period after the disaster the most pronounced disturbances were displayed in the thymus-dependent compartment of an immune system. The arguments are presented that disorders raised in the thymus and T lymphocyte population are not directly induced by ionizing radiation and developed as a result of the chain of events which are triggered by radiation exposure. The key role in this pathway is played by the autoantibodies that bind to the thymic epithelial cells and inhibit secretion of thymic hormones. Decreased levels of these hormones results in the deterioration of T cell functional activity. These theses are discussed and substantiated in experiments in vitro. The alterations observed in late time period after radiation exposure are compared to those developing at the aging of an immune system.