title: Effects of individual polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners on harbour seal immune cells in vitro.
abstract: Effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on the immune system of marine mammals are poorly understood. One important innate immune function of granulocytes is the respiratory burst which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) used to kill engulfed microorganisms. The present study investigates in vitro the effects of BDE-47, -99 and -153, on the formation of ROS, on intracellular level of thiols, on activity and efficiency of phagocytosis and on apoptosis in granulocytes of harbour seals. Compounds were tested at four different concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 12 microM. Results showed that ROS levels, thiol levels and phagocytosis were all affected when harbour seal cells were exposed to the highest concentration (12 microM) of PBDE congeners. Apoptosis was not affected by PBDEs. The observed effects were similar in adults, pups and in the 11B7501 cell line of harbour seals.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique - Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 1B7. heloise.frouin@iaf.inrs.ca
authors.forename: Héloïse
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frouin
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebeuf
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammill
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D046049:Phoca; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide