Effects of Carbon Dust Inhalation on the Cell-Mediated Immune Response in Mice

Abstract

The effects of carbon dust inhalation on the bone marrow-derived (B) and thymus-derived (T) lymphocyte populations of spleen and mediastinal lymph node (MLN) cultures were examined. The concanavalin A (Con A)-responsive cell population (T cells) in the spleen was found to be depressed after 7 days of pre-exposure to carbon dust. However, this effect was transient, and after 14, 21, and 28 days of pre-exposure to carbon dust, the Con A-responsive cells exhibited a 30 to 40% enhancement over control group responses. Conversely, Con A-responsive cells in the pooled MLN cultures exhibited depression, ranging from 22 to 33% below control group values, after 7, 14, and 28 days of preexposure to carbon dust. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive cell population (B cells) in the spleens of carbon-exposed mice was found not to differ significantly from control group values after all times of pre-exposure. LPS-responsive cells in the MLN cultures exhibited enhancement, ranging from 49 to 74% above control values, after 14, 21, and 28 days of pre-exposure to carbon dust. The ability of carbon spleen cell cultures from carbon-exposed mice to undergo antigen induced blast transformation after sensitization with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra was also determined. Mice exposed to carbon dust inhalation 2 weeks before and 3 weeks after aerosol or subcutaneous immunization exhibited significantly enhanced ratios of transformation upon culture of their spleen lymphocytes with purified protein derivative of tuberculin.

Environmentally induced changes in immunological function: acute and chronic effects of inhalation of tobacco smoke and other atmospheric contaminants in man and experimental animals.

“…PFC responses were measured in spleens and regional on August 17, 2020 by guest http://mmbr.asm.org/ Downloaded from TOBACCO SMOKE AND ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINANTS 207 lymph nodes of the respiratory system after aerosol and systemic challenge with antigens. Serum antibody and the responsiveness of lymph node and spleen cells to mitogens were also examined (67,(120)(121)(122). Acute exposure depresses the spleen PFC and serum antibody responses.…”

Environmentally induced changes in immunological function: acute and chronic effects of inhalation of tobacco smoke and other atmospheric contaminants in man and experimental animals

“…PFC responses were measured in spleens and regional on December 13, 2020 by guest http://mmbr.asm.org/ Downloaded from TOBACCO SMOKE AND ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINANTS 207 lymph nodes of the respiratory system after aerosol and systemic challenge with antigens. Serum antibody and the responsiveness of lymph node and spleen cells to mitogens were also examined (67,(120)(121)(122). Acute exposure depresses the spleen PFC and serum antibody responses.…”

Counteraction of poly(4-vinylpyridine-n-oxide) on the depression of viral interferon induction by coal dust

“…Carbon dust inhalation was also found to cause a significant enhancement of L3H]thymidine uptake of sensitized mouse spleen cell cultures by purified protein derivative of human tuberculin. This may be indicative of a change in the delayed-type hypersensitivity response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (28). That interferon production may represent one of the factors responsible for the depression of cell-mediated immune reactions, i.e., delayed-type hypersensitivity, during virus infection has been reported (7).…”