Immunological consequences from exposure to benzo(a)pyrene during pregnancy.
Progeny and maternal immune status after benzo(a)pyrene (BP) exposure of mothers at mid-pregnancy is disrupted in fetal liver (FL), in spleen and in thymus during pregnancy and postnatally. Mice suffer deficiencies in splenic and thymic mixed lymphocyte responses (MLR), and disorientations of T antigen expressing cells, punctuated by exorbitant increases in Lyt2, especially in FL. FL Lyt2 do not suppress an MLR, while Lyt1 mediate suppression. Isolated Thy1 show a weak response to Concanavalin A; FL Thy1 weakly express an MLR. Maternal macrophages and progeny B cells are also functionally abnormal. Thus, BP induces generalized immune deficiency that may affect ontogeny and which is potentially deleterious to health.
Urso
P
P
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30310-1495.
Zhang
W
W
Cobb
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene