title: A review of the immunotoxicity of the pesticide 3,4-dichloropropionanalide.
abstract: The pesticide 3,4-dichloropropionanilide (propanil or, alternatively, DCPA) is a member of the acetanilide chemical family and is predominantly used for the control of weeds on commercial rice crops worldwide. This article was written to provide a brief review of the general toxicity of propanil followed by a detailed summary of the immunotoxicity studies that were performed to date in mammalian in vivo and in vitro models. Propanil affects the immune system at organ, cellular, and molecular levels. Studies demonstrated that it produces thymic atrophy and splenomegaly and decreases developing T- and B-cell populations in the thymus and bone marrow. Natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages are critical components of the innate immune system. NK cell cytotoxicity and the ability of macrophages to phagocytose, kill pathogenic bacteria, and produce inflammatory cytokines are suppressed by propanil. Propanil also affects the respiratory burst of macrophages, inhibiting reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production. Molecular mechanisms responsible for propanil's effects have begun to be elucidated and include alterations in nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcription factor activity and intracellular Ca(2+) signaling. Propanil exposure alters a number of functions of mature T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes that impacts the adaptive immune response. T-cell cytotoxic activity and cytokine production are major T-cell functions inhibited by propanil. The humoral antibody response to model antigens and intact bacteria is differentially affected after propanil exposure. How these changes in innate and adaptive immune responses impact the host response to bacterial challenge or vaccination has begun to be examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9177, USA.
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Ustyugova
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Brundage
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schafer
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000813:Anilides / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: C480141:3,4-dichloropropionanilide; D000813:Anilides; D006540:Herbicides