Depressions in B- and T-lymphocyte mitogen-induced blastogenesis in mice exposed to low concentrations of benzene.
In a short-term (6 h/day X 6 days) benzene inhalation dose-response study, mitogen-induced blastogenesis of both B- and T-lymphocytes in male, C57Bl mice was observed to be significantly depressed at relatively low levels of benzene. Exposure to 10 ppm benzene resulted in a significant depression in femoral lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced B-colony-forming ability, while total numbers of B-lymphocytes at this concentration were not significantly depressed. Similarly, splenic phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced blastogenesis was significantly depressed at 31 ppm, without a concomitant significant depression in numbers of T-lymphocytes. These data indicate that concentrations of benzene at or near the current standard for occupational exposure (10 ppm) can affect certain immune-associated processes.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005740:Gases; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
D005740:Gases; D001554:Benzene