Construction of dose-effect curves by irradiating peripheral blood mononuclear cells analyzed with the alkaline comet assay

Abstract

The  suitability  of  the  alkaline  comet  assay  to  detect  levels  of  DNA  damage  in  human monocytes  and  lymphocytes  under  radiation  was  tested.  For  this  purpose,  four  dose-effect curves by irradiation of cells isolated from blood samples of 4 young, health and non-somker donors were constructed. A gamma ray source of ⁶⁰Co was used and doses of 0, 2.5, 5 and 7 Gy  were delivered  to  blood  cells.  The  results  show  good  correlation  (R2  =  0.973,  SD  = 0.009)  between  the  radiation  dose  and  DNA  damage  as  measured  by  the  parameter  Tail Intensity  (percentage  of  DNA  in  the  tail  of  the  "comet").  Furthermore,  we  observe  the y (7.59, SD = 1.5). Potential use of this technique ogical dosimetry of ionizing radiations is being evaluated