title: Immunomodulatory effects of occupational exposure to mancozeb.
abstract: The effects of occupational exposure to ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate of manganese and zinc on the immune system were evaluated in a group of mancozeb-exposed manufacturers and controls. The immune system tests revealed the following: (a) lymphocyte proliferative responses triggered by different activators and mitogen-induced IL-2 production were higher in exposed subjects than in controls; (b) production of monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-1 and polyclonal IgG and IgM, by beta-lymphocytes, did not differ between exposed subjects and controls; (c) percentages and absolute numbers of total T-cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells, activated T-cells, total beta-cells, and natural killer cells were similar in exposed subjects and controls; (d) serum immunoglobulin classes and complement fractions were within the range of normality; and (e) rheumatoid factor and non-organ-specific serum autoantibodies were absent in exposed and control subjects. An increase in T-cell functional response was found in the exposed group, suggesting a slight immunomodulator effect of mancozeb in conditions of low-level, prolonged occupational exposure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health of the University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colosio
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barcellini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maroni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alcini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pastorelli
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rizzardi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soleo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foà
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008344:Maneb / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015038:Zineb / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008344:Maneb; C013099:mancozeb; D002246:Carbon Disulfide; D015038:Zineb