Methylation of Promoters of Apoptosis-Related Genes in Blood Lymphocytes of Workers Exposed to Occupational External Irradiation

Abstract

We studied the effect of technogenic radiation on the degree of promoter methylation in genes involved in apoptosis in blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to long-term γ-radiation during their professional activities. Blood samples for the analysis were obtained from 11 conventionally healthy men aged from 54 to 71 years (mean 66 years), workers of the Siberian Group of Chemical Enterprises working experience from 27 to 40 years (mean 30 years); the external exposure dose was 175.88 mSv (158.20-207.81 mSv). In all examined subjects, the degree of methylation of the promoters of apoptosis-related genes ranged from 0.22 to 50.00%. A correlation was found between the degree of methylation of BCLAF1 promoters (p=0.035) with the age of workers, BAX promoters (p=0.0289) with high content of aberrant cells, and APAF1 promoters (p=0.0152) with increased number of dicentric chromosomes. A relationship was found between the dose of external irradiation and the degree of methylation of gene promoters of BAD (p=0.0388), BID (р=0.0426), and HRK (р=0.0101) genes.