title: Cytokine patterns in greenhouse workers occupationally exposed to α-cypermethrin: an observational study.
abstract: The immunotoxicity of the synthetic pyrethroid α-cypermethrin (αCYP) was assessed in 30 occupationally exposed greenhouse workers and 30 non-exposed controls by comparing plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, TNF-α, TNF-β and INF-γ. Urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid was used as an exposure biomarker. Exposed workers showed neither clinical signs of immunosuppression nor alterations in total leukocytes or leukocyte subpopulations, whereas significant differences (p<0.05) were found for IL-12p70 and highly significant differences (p<0.001) for INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-8, which are involved in antitumor immunity and response to infection. Proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-8, IL-12p70 and IFN-γ play a significant role against infection and cancer. We report the first data on the ability of αCYP to reduce proinflammatory cytokine levels in an exposed healthy human population. Findings support the hypothesis that pyrethroid exposure may reduce host defenses against infection and cancer, particularly in subjects with impaired immune capacity.
authors: Department of Environment, Safety, Territory, Food and Health Sciences, Occupational Medicine Section, University of Messina, Policlinico G. Martino, pad. H-via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: ccosta@unime.it.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Costa
authors: Venerando
authors: V
authors: Rapisarda
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Catania
authors: Carmelina
authors: C
authors: Di Nola
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Ledda
authors: Concettina
authors: C
authors: Fenga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D016207:Cytokines; D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017160:cypermethrin; C017618:3-phenoxybenzoic acid
keywords: 3-PBA; 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid; 3-phenoxybenzoic acid; CYP; Cypermethrin; Cytokines; GHW; HTC; Hb; IL; Immunotoxicity; LOD; Occupational exposure; Pesticide; RBC; US EPA; United States Environmental Protection Agency; WBC; cypermethrin; greenhouse workers; hematocrit; hemoglobin concentration; interleukin; limit of detection; red blood cells; white blood cells; α-cypermethrin; αCYP