Immunotoxicity of environmentally relevant mixtures of polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons with methyl mercury on rat lymphocytes in vitro
Journal Article
·
· Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
- Univ. of Quebec, Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
The immunosuppressive effects of methyl mercury (MHg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are well established at higher exposure levels but unclear at low exposure levels. The authors exposed Fischer 344 rat splenocytes, thymocytes, and peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro for 72 h to MHg of three PCDDs and two PCDFs PCB mixtures, or combinations of MHg/PCB/PCDD/PCDF mixtures Mitogenic responses of lymphocytes to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, or lipopolysaccharide/dextran sulfate were determined by {sup 3}H-thymidine uptake; cytotoxicity and intracellular Ca{sup 2+} were determined by flow cytometry. Methylmercury mixtures with 2 {micro}g/ml MHg decreased the viability of splenocytes to 57 and 40% at 4 and 24 h, respectively. Basal intracellular calcium ion levels were unaffected by the treatments. Methylmercury suppressed the responses of lymphocytes to T and B cell mitogens. All combinations of MHg/PCB/PCDD/PCDF mixtures decreased mitogenic responses to levels similar to those to MHg alone. In contrast, PCB and PCDD/PCDF mixtures did not suppress but augmented responses of splenocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes to T cell mitogens. Overall, no interactive toxicity was observed with MHg/PCB/PCDD/PCDF mixtures on cytotoxicity and lymphocyte mitogenic responses. Therefore, MHg may pose a greater threat than organochlorines to the mammalian immune system.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 464864
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 16; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Assessment of the immunotoxic potential of the fungicide dinocap in mice
Demonstration of the inhibitory effect of human alpha-fetoprotein on in vitro transformation of human lymphocytes
Chlorinated dibenzo-P-dioxins and dibenzofurans and the human immune system (2) In vitro proliferation of lymphocytes from workers with quantified moderately-increased body burdens
Technical Report
·
Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1991
·
OSTI ID:6616276
Demonstration of the inhibitory effect of human alpha-fetoprotein on in vitro transformation of human lymphocytes
Journal Article
·
Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976
· Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:7156187
Chlorinated dibenzo-P-dioxins and dibenzofurans and the human immune system (2) In vitro proliferation of lymphocytes from workers with quantified moderately-increased body burdens
Journal Article
·
Tue Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1995
· Life Sciences
·
OSTI ID:121309