COMPARISON OF THE PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS EXPOSED TO LOW DOSE RATE RADIATION IN VIVO AND EX VIVO

The hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are sensitive to radiation. Chronic exposure to low dose rate (LDR) radiation at 20 mGy/day results in a decrease in the number of HSCs and an increase of leukemia. In this study, the proliferative capacities of ex vivo HSCs, exposed to 20 mGy/day of gamma-rays for 20 days, were compared with those of in vivo HSCs from similarly whole-body-irradiated mice. Radiation suppressed the growth of the ex vivo HSCs after Day 16 of irradiation and until Day 7 post-exposure. Almost all types of cells, particularly multipotent progenitors, common myeloid progenitors, granulocytes and macrophages, were significantly reduced in number at Day 20 of irradiation and Day 7 post-exposure in culture. HSCs and multipotent progenitors irradiated in vivo, however, decreased transiently and recovered by Day 7 post-exposure. These findings suggest that the microenvironment in vivo protects HSCs from the effects of LDR radiation.