HIGH TITERS OF ANTIBODIES TO 2 HUMAN POLYOMAVIRUSES, JCV AND BKV, CORRELATE WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY OF CHROMOSOMAL DAMAGE IN HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES

Associations of antibody titers to the JC and BK human polyoma viruses and the frequency of chromosome aberrations (CA) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied. Study group consisted of 33 workers oc cupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation and 11 control persons. There were no statistically significant differences in the J C and BK virus titer values between two groups of donors. It was found that JC and BK virus titers explained approximately 6% of total inter -individual variation in CA frequency. Such factors as alcohol abuse, age and, in this special group, exposure to ionizing radiation explain ed an additional 53% of the total variation in CA frequency. In six cl ean-up workers and one control, rogue cells (cells with multiple chrom osome-type aberrations) were found. The incidence of rogue cells corre lated significantly with JC and BK virus titers as well as a history o f recent acute respiratory disease.