Associations of blood levels of PCB, HCHS, and HCB with numbers of lymphocyte subpopulations, in vitro lymphocyte response, plasma cytokine levels, and immunoglobulin autoantibodies.

Abstract

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), hexachlorocyclohexane-[alpha], -beta, and -[gamma] (HCH-[alpha], -beta, and -[gamma]), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are widely distributed industrial chemicals. They are suspected to induce immunologic impairments in exposed individuals. We examined dose-response relationships of blood levels of these chemicals with cellular (numbers of lymphocyte subpopulations, in vitro lymphocyte response) or humoral (plasma cytokine levels, immunoglobulin autoantibodies) immunologic dysfunctions. We studied 146 patients who had been occupationally exposed primarily to PCBs for more than 6 months. Lymphocyte subpopulations, in vitro responses to mitogens and allogeneic stimulator cells, plasma neopterin, cytokines, soluble cytokine receptors, soluble adhesion molecules, anti-Ig autoantibodies, and liver transaminases were determined. Blood levels of the different compounds were strongly correlated with one another. There were only weak dose-response relationships between blood levels of PCBs with cellular immune parameters, and of HCHs and HCB with humoral immune parameters. An exception was the statistically significant negative association of HCB with interferon-[gamma] (IFN-[gamma]), indicating that HCB has a significant impact on Th1 lymphocytes. Patients with HCB blood levels above the mean of 1,109 ng/L more often had undetectable IFN-[gamma] blood levels than patients below the mean. Patients with increased PCB 138 (> 710 ng/L) had more frequently undetectable interleukin-4 blood levels than patients with PCB 138 below the mean, and patients with increased PCB 101 (> 31 ng/L) more often had low DR+ cell counts in the blood (< 190/microL) than patients with PCB 101 below the mean. To assess possible cumulative effects, we compared patients who had blood levels of all compounds below background with patients who had blood levels of all compounds above background. Patients with low or absent blood levels of the compounds studied had higher IFN-[gamma] plasma levels, providing some evidence for a cumulative effect of several weakly active compounds. In conclusion, exposure to PCBs, HCB, or HCHs is associated with weak immunologic abnormalities. These results contrast with those obtained in earlier studies of blood levels of PCP, which showed a strong dose-dependent relationship with immunologic impairments. Our data suggest that long-term exposure of patients to HCB suppresses IFN-[gamma] production.

Immune function biomarkers in children exposed to lead and organochlorine compounds: a cross-sectional study

“…The allergic Th2 phenotype is characterized by secretion of cytokines that promote immunoglobulin E (IgE) production resulting in allergies. This suggestion is in agreement with findings of Daniel and co-workers, who reported an association between DDE and interleukin-4, a Th2 cytokine [39]. In addition, our interpretation that DDE may be associated with an allergy-like response is supported by the distribution of aeroallergen-specific IgE results over the four DDE exposure levels.…”

Effects of PCBs and PBDEs on thyroid hormone, lymphocyte proliferation, hematology and kidney injury markers in residents of an e-waste dismantling area in Zhejiang, China

“…The percentages of monocytes and lymphocytes demonstrated significantly lower levels in the exposure group, and both of them showed negative correlations with PCBs. As previously reported, occupational PCB-exposed individuals with higher levels of persistent chemicals in their blood demonstrated lower levels of T lymphocyte counts (Daniel et al, 2001). Another cross-sectional study also reported that lymphocyte numbers were lower in the highest PCB exposure groups (Serdar et al, 2014).…”

Positive Associations of Serum Concentration of Polychlorinated Biphenyls or Organochlorine Pesticides with Self-Reported Arthritis, Especially Rheumatoid Type, in Women

“…However, the results have not been consistent. Although some studies have reported positive associations (Daniel et al 2001; Langer et al 2002), other studies failed to do so (Schoenroth et al 2004; Tsuji 2000; Tsuji et al 1999; Yu et al 1998). …”