title: Suppression of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by carbon tetrachloride.
abstract: The effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), following 7 consecutive days of exposure ip at 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg, were determined on murine humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, body and organ weights, spleen cell blastogenesis following mitogenic stimulation, and clinical serum parameters for liver injury. In vivo sensitization of CCl4-treated B6C3F1 mice resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of the T-dependent antibody response to sheep red blood cells (sRBC) at all doses--36, 48, and 53%, respectively. The T-independent in vivo antibody response to DNP-Ficoll was suppressed only at 1500 mg/kg, and only by approximately 16%. This dosing regimen also resulted in a significant decrease in thymus weights; however, there were no significant effects on liver, kidney, lung, or body weights. The serum chemistry profile indicated a dose-dependent increase in serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels (34-, 47-, and 55-fold) and a non-dose-dependent increase in serum bilirubin and total protein. Serum glucose and albumin levels were unaffected. Splenocytes from mice treated with 1500 mg/kg and sensitized in vitro with antigen demonstrated a comparably suppressed antibody response to the antigens sRBC and DNP-Ficoll as observed in vivo--66 and 28% respectively. This dose of CCl4 had no effect on the in vitro antibody response to the polyclonal antigen lipopolysaccharide. The mixed lymphocyte response was dose dependently suppressed following CCl4 exposure; however, the delayed-type hypersensitivity response was unaffected. Lymphocyte blastogenesis following mitogenic stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A was also inhibited by CCl4 exposure. These studies demonstrate that exposure to CCl4 results in a marked suppression in both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses at concentrations which also affect the liver as evidenced by the marked increase in SGPT levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Holsapple
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride