title: Dysregulation of cytokine response in Canadian First Nations communities: is there an association with persistent organic pollutant levels?
abstract: In vitro and animal studies report that some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) trigger the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Whether POP exposure is associated with a dysregulation of cytokine response remains to be investigated in humans. We studied the strength of association between plasma POP levels and circulating cytokines as immune activation markers. Plasma levels of fourteen POPs and thirteen cytokines were measured in 39 Caucasians from a comparator sample in Québec City (Canada) and 72 First Nations individuals from two northern communities of Ontario (Canada). Caucasians showed significantly higher levels of organochlorine insecticides (β-HCH, p,p'-DDE and HCB) compared to First Nations. Conversely, First Nations showed higher levels of Mirex, Aroclor 1260, PCB 153, PCB 170, PCB 180 and PCB 187 compared to Caucasians. While there was no difference in cytokine levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-22 between groups, First Nations had significantly greater average levels of IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-17A, TNFα and TNFβ levels compared to Caucasians. Among candidate predictor variables (age, body mass index, insulin resistance and POP levels), high levels of PCBs were the only predictor accounting for a small but significant effect of observed variance (∼7%) in cytokine levels. Overall, a weak but significant association is detected between persistent organochlorine pollutant exposure and elevated cytokine levels. This finding augments the already existing information that environmental pollution is related to inflammation, a common feature of several metabolic disorders that are known to be especially prevalent in Canada's remote First Nations communities.
authors: Behavioral and Metabolic Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. imbeault@uottawa.ca
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Imbeault
authors: C Scott
authors: CS
authors: Findlay
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Robidoux
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Haman
authors: Jules M
authors: JM
authors: Blais
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Tremblay
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Springthorpe
authors: Shinjini
authors: S
authors: Pal
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Seabert
authors: Eva M
authors: EM
authors: Krümmel
authors: Rasha
authors: R
authors: Maal-Bared
authors: Jason A
authors: JA
authors: Tetro
authors: Sunita
authors: S
authors: Pandey
authors: Syed A
authors: SA
authors: Sattar
authors: Lionel G
authors: LG
authors: Filion
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D007306:Insecticides