Single dose of 5 Gy can damage erythrocytes and consequently induces lymphocyte depletion in spleen and circulating blood - Summary - MDSpire

Single dose of 5 Gy can damage erythrocytes and consequently induces lymphocyte depletion in spleen and circulating blood

  • By

  • Peimeng You

  • Xiaohang Qin

  • Yinghui Li

  • Huiling Ye

  • Yuhui Zhao

  • Guangshan Wang

  • Cuimeng Tian

  • Shuo Yin

  • Junyu Li

  • Teng Ma

  • Feng-Ming (Spring) Kong

  • Jian-Yue Jin

  • June 19, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To test the hypothesis that a low dose of 5-Gy can damage erythrocytes, leading to lymphocyte depletion in the spleen.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Irradiation of 5–6 Gy caused morphological damage to erythrocytes.
    • Irradiated erythrocytes were phagocytosed in the spleen, resulting in increased hemosiderin-laden macrophages.
    • The clearance of damaged erythrocytes led to a reduction of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood and both T and B lymphocytes in the spleen.
    Interpretation:

    The study presents evidence that low-dose irradiated erythrocytes are recognized and cleared in the spleen, which is associated with lymphocyte depletion.

    Limitations:
    • The study was conducted on rats, limiting direct applicability to humans.
    • The specific mechanisms underlying lymphocyte depletion were not fully elucidated.
    Conclusion:

    Low-dose irradiation of erythrocytes may be associated with lymphocyte depletion in the spleen and peripheral blood.

Original Source(s)

Single dose of 5 Gy can damage erythrocytes and consequently induces lymphocyte depletion in spleen and circulating blood

  • by Peimeng You, Xiaohang Qin, Yinghui Li, Huiling Ye, Yuhui Zhao, Guangshan Wang, Cuimeng Tian, Shuo Yin, Junyu Li, Teng Ma, Feng-Ming (Spring) Kong, Jian-Yue Jin

  • June 19, 2026

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