Profile of Cytokines Involved in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis in Nuclear Industry Workers Exposed to Chronic Radiation

Chronic irradiation can have an immune-modifying effect by changing the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which triggers a mechanism of self-sustaining chronic inflammation. According to modern concepts, chronic inflammation plays a significant role in atherosclerosis progression. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the profile of cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in workers exposed to chronic radiation. Two groups were formed for the study: the main group (workers of a radiation-hazardous enterprise who were exposed to chronic radiation) and the controls (residents of Ozersk city without any contact with occupational exposure). The content of cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1, IFNγ, IL-12p70 and IL-17A) in peripheral blood serum was determined by solid-phase ELISA. There were no statistically significant differences in the content of serum cytokines IL-6, IFNγ, IL-12p70 and IL-17A. The content of MCP-1 was statistically significantly higher in the main group and in men of the main group when compared with the controls. The content of MCP-1 was statistically significantly higher, and IL-12p70 was statistically significantly lower in the main group with diseases caused by atherosclerosis than in the control group. Workers of radiation-hazardous enterprises with atherosclerosis-related diseases who have been exposed to chronic radiation have changes in the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can contribute to the progression of the disease.