title: Respiratory exposure to diesel exhaust particles decreases the spleen IgM response to a T cell-dependent antigen in female B6C3F1 mice.
abstract: We investigated the systemic immunotoxic potential of respiratory exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in this study. Female B6C3F1 mice (approximately 8 weeks old) were exposed to increasing concentrations of DEP intratracheally, 3 times every two weeks, and sacrificed 2 or 4 weeks after the first exposure. The systemic toxicity and immune status in mice were evaluated. Mice exposed to DEP (1 to 15 mg/kg) showed no significant changes in body, spleen, or liver weights. Lung weights were increased in the mice exposed to 15 mg/kg DEP for 2 or 4 weeks. Except for a decreased platelet count, no significant alterations occurred in hematological parameters following DEP exposure. The number of splenic anti-sheep red blood cell (sRBC) IgM antibody-forming cells (AFC) decreased following DEP exposure for 2 weeks. This effect was less severe following 4 weeks of exposure and was only evident in the high dose group. Exposure to DEP also resulted in a significant decrease in the absolute numbers and the percentages of total spleen cells for total, CD4(+), and CD8(+) T cells, while the numbers of B cells and total nucleated cells in spleen were not significantly changed. The proliferative response of splenocytes to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A (ConA), as well as their production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, was decreased dose-dependently following exposure of mice to DEP for 2 weeks, whereas proliferation was not changed in response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. In summary, short-term respiratory exposure of mice to DEP resulted in systemic immunosuppression with evidence of T cell-mediated and possibly macrophage-mediated mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA.
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butterworth
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Munson
authors.forename: B Jean
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meade
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D001335:Vehicle Emissions