title: Elevated lead levels and adverse effects on natural killer cells in children from an electronic waste recycling area.
abstract: Lead (Pb) has been proved to exert immunotoxicity to influence immune homeostasis in humans. To monitor the internal Pb level and evaluate its effect on natural killer (NK) cells and cytokine/chemokine concentrations, we recruited 285 preschool children from Guiyu, one of the largest electronic waste (e-waste) destinations and recycling areas in the world, and known to have high concentrations of Pb in the air, soil, water, sediment and plants. A total of 126 preschool children were selected from Haojiang as a reference group. Results showed that children in Guiyu, the exposed area, had higher blood Pb levels and lower percentages of NK cells than children from the reference area. A significantly negative association was found between the percentage of NK cells and increasing Pb levels. Moreover, children in Guiyu area had higher platelet counts and IL-1β concentrations, and lower levels of IL-2, IL-27, MIP-1α and MIP-1β were observed in the exposed children. These changes might not be conducive to the development and differentiation of NK cells. Taken together, the elevated Pb levels result in the lower percentages of NK cells, but also alter the levels of platelets, IL-1β and IL-27, which might be unconducive to the activity and function of NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Junjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: xuxj@stu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D059027:Recycling; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead
keywords: Cytokines; E-waste; Lead; NK cells; Preschool children