title: Splenic cell targets in gallium arsenide-induced suppression of the primary antibody response.
abstract: In vivo exposure of female B6C3F1 mice to gallium arsenide (GaAs) was evaluated for its effect on the in vitro IgM antibody-forming cell (AFC) response. In vivo exposure to a single intratracheal dose of GaAs (2.5-200 mg/kg) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the in vitro IgM AFC response to the T-dependent antigen sheep red blood cells (SRBC) with a 97% decrease at 200 mg/kg when compared to vehicle controls. The response to the T-independent antigen DNP-Ficoll was significantly reduced at 100 and 200 mg/kg. Spleen cellularity decreased in a dose-related manner with a 54% decrease at 200 mg/kg. Enumeration of splenic subpopulations following GaAs (200 mg/kg) indicated a 58, 61, and 30% decrease in the total number of Thy 1.2 (T cells), Ig (B cells), and F4/80 (macrophages) positive cells, respectively, with no alterations in the percentages of these cells. Mitogenic responsiveness of splenocytes from GaAs-exposed mice was unaltered. To identify the splenic cell populations targeted by GaAs, the AFC response to SRBC was evaluated following cell separation/reconstitution of splenocytes from GaAs- (200 mg/kg, 24-hr exposure) and vehicle-exposed mice. Results demonstrated AFC suppression was due to functional alterations in both adherent (AD; macrophages) and nonadherent, (both T and B lymphocytes) cell populations. Further investigation focused on alterations in the AD population. Separation/reconstitution experiments demonstrated AFC suppression to SRBC was dependent on the concentration of macrophages from GaAs-exposed mice. This macrophage-mediated suppression of the in vitro AFC response could not be attributed to the presence of suppressor macrophages or release of prostaglandins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sikorski
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Luster
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Munson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001152:Arsenicals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005708:Gallium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014132:Trachea
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008934:Mitogens; C043055:gallium arsenide; D005708:Gallium; D001151:Arsenic