Cytokine production by C57BL/6 mouse spleen cells is selectively reduced by exposure to propanil.
Numerous immunomodulatory effects are caused by propanil, an extensively used postemergent herbicide. The T-dependent antibody response is suppressed after exposure to propanil, raising the question of propanil's effect on T-helper-cell populations. In the present study, we show that the production of several T-cell cytokines is affected by propanil after in vivo or in vitro exposure. In vivo exposure to propanil caused the reduction of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interferon (IFN)-gamma production in concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cell cultures established 2 d after exposure. IFN-gamma and GM-CSF production had recovered by d 4 postexposure; however, IL-2 and IL-6 levels continued to be depressed through d 7 postexposure. Continuous in vitro treatment of normal spleen cells with propanil decreased IL-2, IL-6, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma production after concanavalin A activation. Pulsing normal spleen cell cultures with propanil for up to 8 h before T-cell activation resulted in reduced IL-6 but not IL-2 or IFN-gamma production. These data indicate that propanil can selectively inhibit spleen cell cytokine production, which could contribute to the immunomodulatory effects previously described.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
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Zhao
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Schafer
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Barnett
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011411:Propanil / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D006540:Herbicides; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003208:Concanavalin A; D011411:Propanil; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor