title: Pentachlorophenol decreases ATP levels in human natural killer cells.
abstract: Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is used as a wood preservative and is found in human blood and urine. PCP causes significant decreases in the tumor-killing (lytic) function of human natural killer (NK) cells, a critical immune defense. The current study examined the association between decreased lytic function and decreased ATP levels, as well as the ability of antioxidants (vitamin E and reduced glutathione) to prevent PCP-induced decreases in either ATP levels or lytic function. Exposure of NK cells to 10 microm PCP decreased ATP levels by 15% at 24 h, and exposure to 5 microm PCP decreased ATP levels by 32% at 48 h. No effects were seen with 0.5 microm at 48 h or with 5 microm at 24 h. However, 10 microm PCP decreased lytic function by 69% at 24 h and 5 microm decreased it by 90% at 48 h. Even 0.5 microm PCP decreased lytic function by 46% at 48 h. None of these effects were prevented by pretreatment with 1 mm vitamin E or reduced glutathione.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA.
authors.forename: Ugochukwu
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nnodu
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Whalen
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002857:Chromium / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010416:Pentachlorophenol / Q000633:toxicity*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002857:Chromium; D014810:Vitamin E; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010416:Pentachlorophenol; D005978:Glutathione