Immunological studies on mice exposed subacutely to methyl isocyanate
The immunotoxicity of methyl isocyanate (MIC) was evaluated in female B6C3F1 mice exposed via inhalation to 0, 1, or 3 ppm for 6 hr per day on 4 consecutive days. The antibody response to sheep erythrocytes and natural killer cell activity were found to be unaffected by MIC exposure. Although lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens were moderately suppressed by MIC, the differences were not statistically significant. The response of splenic lymphocytes to allogeneic leukocytes in a mixed leukocyte response (MLR) was suppressed in a dose-related fashion and was significantly different from the control response at the 3 ppm level. This effect was thought to be secondary and a result of general toxicity rather than a direct effect of MIC on the immune system. Furthermore, resistance to the infectious agents Listeria monocytogenes, mouse malaria parasite, and influenza virus, or to transplantable tumor cells was not compromised by MIC exposure. Thus, the immune system does not appear to be a primary target for MIC toxicity.
- Research Organization:
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
- OSTI ID:
- 6066100
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 72
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ISOCYANATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
INHALATION
MICE
DISEASE RESISTANCE
IMMUNOLOGY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ERYTHROCYTES
FEMALES
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INFLUENZA VIRUSES
LYMPHOCYTES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
INTAKE
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
PARASITES
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES
VIRUSES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology