title: Chronic arsenic exposure impairs macrophage functions in the exposed individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Owing to the established roles of human macrophages in immune defense, we investigated the effect of chronic arsenic exposure upon these major hematopoietic cells in 70 arsenic-exposed individuals with skin lesions and 64 unexposed individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human monocyte-derived macrophages were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, by culture of the adherent cells for 6 days in medium supplemented with granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor. Parameters studied included cell adhesion capacity, expression of CD54 and F-actin, nitric oxide production, phagocytic capacity, and effect of arsenic on Rho A-ROCK pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In macrophages of exposed individuals when compared to unexposed group, there was cell rounding accompanied with a significant (p < 0.001) loss of cell adhesion capacity, decrease in nitric oxide production, impaired phagocytic capacity, and decreased CD 54 and F-actin expression. Additionally, chronic arsenic exposure affected Rho A-ROCK pathway which in turn impaired macrophage functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These altogether could contribute significantly to arsenic-induced immunosuppression observed in the arsenic-exposed individuals.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Human Genetics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.
authors.forename: Nilanjana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Saptarshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Rupashree
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Apurba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: Nilendu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: Papiya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.forename: Jayanta K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Mitali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Syed N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Giri
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000577:Amides; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits; D011725:Pyridines; D014867:Water; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C108830:Y 27632; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D001151:Arsenic