Polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure suppresses cytokines important in the defence to coxsackievirus B3 infection in mice.
Environmental pollutants can adversely affect the immune system. The host defence during infection depends on cytokine signalling and proper function of immune cells. However, no studies have addressed how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) affect cytokine responses. We investigated the combined effects in Balb/c mice of human coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection and exposure to PBDEs (BDE-99 or Bromkal mixture) on 21 serum cytokines. The mice were infected (i.p.) on day 0, orally treated with BDE-99 or Bromkal on day 1 (20mg/kg bw) and put to death on day 3. CVB3 was quantitatively measured in the liver and pancreas by RT-PCR. The Luminex 200 multi-analyte system was used for cytokine analysis. High numbers of viral copies were found in the liver and pancreas. Infection increased TNF-alpha, IL-6, MCP-1, IL-12p40, KC and RANTES levels. Notably, PBDE-exposure resulted in a marked decrease, or even lack, of IL-13, MIP-1beta, RANTES, IFN-gamma and KC levels in non-infected mice. However, the effects of PBDE-exposure on cytokines did not affect viral replication during early CVB3 infection. In conclusion, PBDEs causes a selective block in immune signalling pathways but the consequences of this need to be further studied in different host resistance models of infection.
Lundgren
Magnus
M
Toxicology Division, National Food Administration, Hamnesplanaden, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden. magnus.lundgren@slv.se
Darnerud
Per Ola
PO
Blomberg
Jonas
J
Friman
Göran
G
Ilbäck
Nils-Gunnar
NG
D000818:Animals; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology
C477694:2,2',4,4',5-brominated diphenyl ether; D016207:Cytokines; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; C063747:Bromkal 70