title: Immunotoxic effects of sodium tungstate dihydrate on female B6C3F1/N mice when administered in drinking water.
abstract: Tungsten is a naturally occurring, high-tensile strength element that has been used in a number of consumer products. Tungsten has been detected in soil, waterways, groundwater, and human tissue and body fluids. Elevated levels of tungsten in urine were reported for populations exposed to tungstate in drinking water in areas where natural tungsten formations were prevalent. Published reports indicated that sodium tungstate may modulate hematopoiesis, immune cell populations, and immune responses in rodent models. The objective of this study was to assess potential immunotoxicity of sodium tungstate dihydrate (STD), a drinking water contaminant. Female B6C3F1/N mice received 0-2000 mg STD/L in their drinking water for 28 d, and were evaluated for effects on immune cell populations in spleen and bone marrow, and humoral-mediated, cell-mediated, and innate immunity. Three different parameters of cell-mediated immunity were similarly affected at 1000 mg STD/L. T-cell proliferative responses against allogeneic leukocytes and anti-CD3 were decreased 32%, and 21%, respectively. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity was decreased at all effector:target cell ratios examined. At 2000 mg STD/L, the absolute numbers of CD3(+) T-cell progenitor cells in bone marrow were increased 86%, but the alterations in B-lymphocyte and other progenitor cells were not significant. There were no effects on bone marrow DNA synthesis or colony forming capabilities. STD-induced effects on humoral-mediated immunity, innate immunity, and splenocyte sub-populations were limited. Enhanced histopathology did not detect treatment-related lesions in any of the immune tissues. These data suggest exposure to STD in drinking water may adversely affect cell-mediated immunity.
authors.affiliation: a Division of the National Toxicology Program , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Rachel P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Frawley
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond , VA ;
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond , VA ;
authors.forename: Kimber L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: a Division of the National Toxicology Program , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Elmore
authors.affiliation: a Division of the National Toxicology Program , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.affiliation: c Experimental Pathology Laboratories Inc., Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: d WIL Research , Hillsborough , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Staska
authors.affiliation: a Division of the National Toxicology Program , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behl
authors.affiliation: a Division of the National Toxicology Program , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Michelle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hooth
authors.affiliation: e Division of Intramural Research , NIEHS, Research Triangle Park , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Grace E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Kissling
authors.affiliation: a Division of the National Toxicology Program , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Research Triangle Park , NC , USA ;
authors.forename: Dori R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Germolec
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; C025399:sodium tungstate(VI)
keywords: Cell-mediated immunity; cytotoxic T-lymphocyte; sodium tungstate dihydrate