Antiradiation vaccine: Technology and development of prophylaxis, prevention and treatment of biological consequences from Heavy Ion irradiation.

Introduction: An anti-radiation vaccine could be an important part

of a countermeasures reg-imen for effective radioprotection,

immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of the acute radi-ation syndromes

(ARS) after gamma-irradiation, neutron irradiation or heavy ion

irradiation. Reliable protection of non-neoplastic regions of

patients with different forms of cancer which undergo to heavy ion

therapy ( e.g. Hadron-therapy) can significantly extend the

efficiency of the therapeutic course. The protection of cosmonauts

astronauts from the heavy ion ra-diation component of space radiation

with specific immunoprophylaxis by the anti-radiation vaccine may be

an important part of medical management for long term space

missions. Meth-ods and experiments: 1. The Antiradiation Vaccine

preparation -standard (mixture of toxoid form of Radiation Toxins

-SRD-group) which include Cerebrovascular RT Neurotoxin,

Car-diovascular RT Neurotoxin, Gastrointestinal RT Neurotoxin,

Hematopoietic RT Hematotoxin. Radiation Toxins Specific Radiation

Determinant Group were isolated from a central lymph of

gamma-irradiated animals with Cerebrovascular, Cardiovascular,

Gastrointestiinal, Hematopoi-etic forms of ARS. Devices for

γ-radiation are "Panorama", "Puma". 2. Heavy ion exposure was

accomplished at Department of Scientific Research Institute of

Nuclear Physics, Dubna, Russia. The heavy ions irradiation was

generated in heavy ion (Fe56) accelerator -UTI. Heavy Ion linear

transfer energy -2000-2600 KeV mkm, 600 MeV U. Absorbed Dose -3820

Rad. 3. Experimental Design: Rabbits from all groups were irradiated

by heavy ion accelerator. Group A -control -10 rabbits; Group B

-placebo -5 rabbits; Group C -radioprotectant Cystamine (50 mg kg)-5

rabbits, 15 minutes before irradiation -5 rabbits; Group D

-radioprotectant Gammafos (Amifostine -400mg kg ), -5 rabbits; Group E -Antiradiation Vaccine: subcuta-neus administration or IM -2 ml of active substance, 14 days before irradiation -5 rabbits. 4. Results: Group A -100% mortality within two hours after heavy ion irradiation with clinical symptoms of the acute cerebrovascular and cardiovascular syndromes. Group B -100% mortal-ity within 15 hours following irradiation. Group C -100% mortality within 14-15 hours after irradiation. Group D -100% mortality within 15-16 hours after irradiation. In groups A-D, development of the acute radiation cerebrovascular and cardiovascular syndromes as well as ex-tensive burns of skin caused rapid death. Group E -100% mortality in 280-290 hours (12 days) following heavy ion irradiation while animals were exhibiting a combination or individual forms of the acute cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal forms and focal skin burns. Discussion: The Antiradiation Vaccine (ARV) and specific immune-prophylaxis are an effective method of neutralization of Radiation Toxins. Vaccination with the ARV significantly extended the survival time after irradiation with heavy ions from two hours up to 300 hours. Clinical signs, clinical features, symptoms were somewhat attenuated. Degree of clinical forms of the Acute Radiation Syndromes were diminished in their severity. Groups A-D demonstrated an extremely severe degree (Degree 4) of Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular forms of the Acute Radiation Syndromes and lethality 100% was registered in a short time after irradiation. Radi-ation induced burns in this groups (with Cutaneous sub-syndrome of ARS -Degree 4) that were deep with extensive and total dysfunction and possible muscle involvement developed. Animals from group E -Radioprotectant -anti-radiation vaccine had demonstrated later development of the severe Degree 3 or even Degree 2-3 forms of Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular forms of the ARS and a survival time of irradiated animals was significantly prolonged. Cutaneous sub-syndrome developed in Degree 3 or Degree 2-3. Our results have demonstrated the potential radioprotection efficacy of specific immune-prophylaxis with the Antiradiation vaccine against heavy ion irradiation.