Primary and secondary antibody responses related to radiation exposures

Introdtict ion Groat interest has been given during I lit* past JO years to the unique radiosensitive nature of immune responses.Relatively few .studieshave dealt with the effects of radiation on innate resistance and immunity to various etiologic agents.A majority of the reports are concerned with radiation-induced repression of antibody responses in laboratory animals to a wide variety of antigens.Of the many outstanding investigators, the immunological studies of Taliaferro, TaImage, Dixon, Makinodan, Gengozian and Silverman are well-recognized for their significant contributions (see reviews, 1-8).A comprehensive review by Makinodan of changes in ininunobiological processes caused by radiation exposure presents an excellent discussion and summation of the many factors involved (4).These studies and reviews now provide valuable baselines of information for investigators with a more practical interest in radiation-altered immune responses.A basic dichotomy is often made in immune responses between humoral antibody formation and cellular immunity.In view of the extensive literature available, it was deemed advisable to limit this report to the effects of whole-body ionizing radiations upon primary and secondary antibody responses. Cellular immune reactions will be adequately covered by others during this