Sublethal Total Body Irradiation Causes Long-Term Deficits in Thymus Function by Reducing Lymphoid Progenitors.

ABSTRACT: Total body irradiation (TBI) damages hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow and thymus; however, the long-term effects of irradiation with aging remain unclear. In this study, we found that the impact of radiation on thymopoiesis in mice varied by sex and dose but, overall, thymopoiesis remained suppressed for ≥12 mo after a single exposure. Male and female mice showed a long-term dose-dependent reduction in thymic cKit⁺ lymphoid progenitors that was maintained throughout life. Damage to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow was dose dependent, with as little as 0.5 Gy causing a significant long-term reduction. In addition, the potential for T lineage commitment was radiation sensitive with aging. Overall, the impact of irradiation on the hematopoietic lineage was m

SUBMITTER: Xiao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5659725 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature