Leukemia-associated gene rearrangements in blood mononuclears of subjects in long terms after radiation exposure

The results of electron microscopy and molecular genetic study of blood mon onuclears of 220 clean-up workers after 7-10 years since Chernobyl accident are presented. An increase of lymphocytes with altered ultrastructure of n uclei and membrane has been observed. Structural polymorphism of leukemia a ssociated bcr and rRNA genes has been analyzed using Southern blot hybridiz ation. Allelic polymorphism of bcr gene with allele distribution characteri stic of myeloid leukemia and rearrangements of rRNA genes have been reveale d in 11,5% of clean-up workers under study.