Evidence of immunomodulation in nestling American kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed to environmentally relevant PBDEs.
We investigated whether exposure to environmentally relevant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) causes immunomodulation in captive nestling American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Eggs within each clutch, divided by laying sequence, were injected with safflower oil or penta-BDE congeners-47, -99, -100, and -153 dissolved in safflower oil (18.7 microg sigmaPBDEs/egg) approximating Great Lakes birds. For 29 days, nestlings consumed the same PBDE mixture (15.6+/-0.3 ng/g body weight per day), reaching sigmaPBDE body burden concentrations that were 120x higher in the treatment birds (86.1+/-29.1 ng/g ww) than controls (0.73+/-0.5 ng/g ww). PBDE-exposed birds had a greater PHA response (T-cell-mediated immunity), which was negatively associated with increasing BDE-47 concentrations, but a reduced antibody-mediated response that was positively associated with increasing BDE-183 concentrations. There were also structural changes in the spleen (fewer germinal centers), bursa (reduced apoptosis) and thymus (increased macrophages), and negative associations between the spleen somatic index and sigmaPBDEs, and the bursa somatic index and BDE-47. Immunomodulation from PBDE exposure may be exacerbated in wild birds experiencing greater environmental stresses.
Fernie
Kim J
KJ
Canadian Wildlife Service, PO Box 5050, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6. kim.fernie@ec.gc.ca
Mayne
Greg
G
Shutt
J Laird
JL
Pekarik
Cynthia
C
Grasman
Keith A
KA
Letcher
Robert J
RJ
Drouillard
Ken
K
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000276:immunology*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C483839:2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptabromodiphenyl ether