title: Effect of lead on the levels of some immunoregulatory cytokines in occupationally exposed workers.
abstract: Lead (Pb) may affect humoral and cellular immunity, acting on lymphocytes as well as on granulocytes and monocytes. Cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) play a central role in the immune balance. In this study, plasma levels of nitrites and nitrates (NOx), IL2, IL4, IL6, IL10, TNF-alpha and INF-gamma, were measured in healthy workers with very low (Pb-B=3.2-18.0 microg/dL) and low (Pb-B=9.1-46.0 microg/dL) Pb-exposure compared to non-exposed workers. Low Pb-exposed workers (Pb-B=9.1 -46.0 microg/ dL) were found to have significantly higher plasma IL-10 levels, and tendentially higher plasma TNF-alpha levels compared to non-exposed workers. This is the first report of a significant increase of plasma IL-10 levels in Pb-exposed workers. Plasma IL-10 increase was influenced by blood Pb levels even after correction for main confounding factors. No difference was found in plasma NOx levels between Pb-exposed and non-exposed workers, which is in agreement with previous findings exclusively regarding groups in the general population. Low Pb-exposure can induce an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, with a consequent increase of other cytokines, such as IL-10, considered a T cell cross-regulatory factor, suggesting possible interference of Pb in the system of immunophlogosis.
authors: Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. m.valentino@univpm.it
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Valentino
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Rapisarda
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Santarelli
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bracci
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Scorcelletti
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Di Lorenzo
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Cassano
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Soleo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007854:Lead; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006418:Heme; D007371:Interferon-gamma