Effect of 60Co γ-rays on the lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies

Three kinds of monoclonal antibodies (McAb), OkT4 McAb, OkT3 McAb and HI43, were used to identify T helper (Th). T suppresser (Ts) and B lymphocytes respectively. After lympbocytes were immediately exposed to 0.1 Gy, 0.25 Gy and 4 Gy 60Co γ-rays, 200 cells were counted to obtain the percentage of immunofluorescence positive cells. The results show that when the Th, Ts and B lymphocytes were irradiated by 0.1 Gy 60Co γ-rays, their abilities to combine with McAb decreased significantly. The radiation effect was more remarkable with increasing radiation dosage. Three kinds of the immunofluorescence positive cells percentages were analysed with weighted linear regression method. The relational coefficients (r) of Th, Ts and B lymphocytes were 0.8131, 0.8832 and 0.9086. The significant tests of regression coefficient showed that the radiosensitivities of Ts and B lymphocytes were higher than that of Th lymphocytes