title: Effects of interleukins 2 and 12 on TBT-induced alterations of MAP kinases p38 and p44/42 in human natural killer cells.
abstract: NK cells are lymphocytes in the non-adaptive immune system that protect the body against intracellular pathogens and eliminate tumor cells. Tributyltin (TBT) is a toxic chemical that has been detected in human foods as well as in human blood. The role of TBT in immunosuppression has been described, including inhibition of the human NK-cell cytotoxic function. Previous studies indicated that exposure of NK cells to TBT for 1 h induced progressive and irreversible inhibition of cytotoxic function. However, it was found that if NK cells were incubated in TBT-free media with either IL-2 or IL-12, loss of cytotoxic function was prevented/reversed within 24 h. Molecular studies established that loss of cytotoxic function is accompanied by alteration of MAP kinases (MAPKs) p38 and p44/42 phosphorylation. This study examined whether interleukin-mediated recovery of cytotoxicity involved reversal of tributyltin-altered p38 and p44/42 phosphorylation. The results indicated that there was no substantial IL-2 prevention/reversal of the TBT-induced alteration of phosphorylation of either p38 or p44/42 after either a 24 or 48 h recovery period. Additionally, IL-12 caused no substantial prevention/reversal of the TBT-induced alteration of phosphorylation of the MAPKs seen after either 24 or 48 h. These data suggest that IL-2 and/or IL-12-mediated recovery of NK cytotoxic function is not a result of prevention/reversal of TBT-induced phosphorylation of p38 and p44/42 MAPKs at the 24 or 48 h time points.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA.
authors.forename: Aloice O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aluoch
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Whalen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D018664:Interleukin-12; C011559:tributyltin; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases