Pyrethroids and piperonyl-butoxide affect human T-lymphocytes in vitro.
Synthetic pyrethroids are increasingly used as insecticides and are claimed to have a relatively low human toxicity. The aim of this study was to examine the in vitro effects of the synthetic pyrethroid S-bioallethrin alone and in combination with the common synergist piperonyl-butoxide (PBO) on human blood lymphocytes and basophils in atopic individuals and non-atopic control subjects. S-bioallethrin and PBO also caused inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation (MTT-test) after a 72-h culture period in a concentration dependent manner. In contrast to the MTT-measurements the combined agents are more effective in inhibiting interleukin-4 (IL-4)- and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-production. The regulatory IL-4/IFN-gamma balance showed a significant difference between atopic and non-atopic subjects after a culture period of 24-48 h in the presence of micromolar S-bioallethrin (P < 0.001). Furthermore S-bioallethrin, PBO and the combined agents induced histamine release from human basophils. Although this effect was little compared to histamine liberators like FMLP and anti-IgE, the response to S-bioallethrin and PBO was significantly different in atopic donors compared with non-atopics (P < 0.01). In scratch test experiments 4 of 18 tested atopic volunteers showed positive reaction (wheals and flares) to S-bioallethrin and permethrin, whereas no reaction could be measured in the control group (age-matched). These findings demonstrate the immuno- and allergo-toxicological properties of the synthetic pyrethroid S-bioallethrin combined with the synergistic PBO using this in vitro approach with human lymphocytes and basophils.
Department of Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences FH Fulda, Germany. friedhelm.diel@he.fh-fulda.de
F
F
Diel
B
B
Horr
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H
Borck
H
H
Savtchenko
T
T
Mitsche
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E
Diel
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000487:Allethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
D000487:Allethrins; D007306:Insecticides; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C018465:bioallethrin; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide