Effect of benzene on interferon (IFN) production

Conference · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5382054

Cheung, S C; Nerland, D E; Sonnenfeld, G

Treatment of mice or of cell cultures with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens has resulted in inhibition of interferon-..cap alpha../..beta..) induction by polyriboinosinic-poly-ribocytidylic acid (poly rI-rC). The current study was undertaken to determine if benzene treatment could also affect IFN-..cap alpha beta../production, in an attempt to further establish an immunotoxicological profile for benzene. Female Swiss mice were first treated with benzene in a corn oil vector. Control mice were treated with corn oil alone. 24 hr after the last benzene treatment, the mice were challenged intravenously with 20 ..mu..g of poly rI.rC to induce IFN-..cap alpha../..beta... A wide-range of benzene dosages was used. A dose of 440 mg/kg was found to be very effective of inhibiting IFN induction by greater than 50%. One dose of benzene was sufficient to inhibit IFN induction, but doses of benzene given once daily for three consecutive days resulted in maximum inhibition of IFN-..cap alpha../..beta.. induction. The maximum inhibition of interferon produced was 80%, compared to corn oil-treated controls. Total leukocyte counts decreased 19% compared to controls after the same benzene treatment, suggesting that the leukopenia observed after benzene-treatment could not totally account for the inhibition of IFN induction observed. These data suggest that benzene can inhibit IFN-..cap alpha../..beta.. production as part of its immunotoxicological effects.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Louisiana School of Medicine, KY
• OSTI ID: 5382054
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604222-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 45:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARCINOGENS
CELL CULTURES
GROWTH FACTORS
HYDROCARBONS
INHIBITION
INTERFERON
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOKINES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
MITOGENS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES