Chronic arsenic exposure impairs macrophage functions in the exposed individuals.
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.
Banerjee
Nilanjana
N
Molecular and Human Genetics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.
Banerjee
Saptarshi
S
Sen
Rupashree
R
Bandyopadhyay
Apurba
A
Sarma
Nilendu
N
Majumder
Papiya
P
Das
Jayanta K
JK
Chatterjee
Mitali
M
Kabir
Syed N
SN
Giri
Ashok K
AK
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
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