title: Reduced production of anti-inflammatory soluble HLA-G molecules in styrene exposed workers.
abstract: HLA-G antigens are non-classical HLA-class I anti-inflammatory molecules. Since styrene exposure has been suggested to induce immune alteration, we analyzed plasma levels and "in vitro" peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) production of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) molecules after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, in styrene exposed workers and healthy subjects. Exposed workers showed reduced plasma levels of sHLA-G and IL-10 in comparison to healthy controls. Similarly, lower levels of sHLA-G and IL-10 molecules were observed in PBMC culture supernatants after LPS activation. These data propose styrene exposure as a mediator of impaired sHLA-G production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Laboratory of Immunogenetics Section of Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintavalle
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stignani
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzè
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Olavio R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Baricordi