title: Serum IgE elevation correlates with blood lead levels in battery manufacturing workers.
abstract: Lead (Pb), an occupational and environmental toxicant, is known to induce immunomodulatory effects resulting in lowered resistance to infectious micro-organisms and altered levels of immunoglobulins in humans. Preferential activation of type-2 helper T cells and inhibition of type-1 T-cell activation is considered a cellular mechanism for the Pb-induced immune alteration, which has not been investigated well in humans. Lead's influence on in vivo balance between type-1 and type-2 activities was assessed among workers exposed to Pb through battery manufacturing in Korea. Serum IgE levels were significantly higher in the workers with a blood Pb level (PbB) of > or = 30 microg/dL than in the workers with a PbB of < 30 microg/dL. Furthermore, the serum IgE concentrations significantly correlated with PbB although no significant relationship between PbB and serum interleukin-4 or interferon gamma levels was observed. The present study indicates that elevation of IgE levels may be an immunologic index for Pb-induced in vivo toxicities, potentially involved with progression of various allergic diseases in humans.
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Daegu, Department of Occupational Health, 330 Kumrak 1-ri, Hayang-eup, Kyongsan-si, Kyongbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D007221:Industry; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D007073:Immunoglobulin E