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.
Zhao
W
W
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
Schafer
R
R
Barnett
J B
JB
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