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J.Health Sci., 46(5), 358-362, 2000
Cytokine Production by Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells after Exposure to Heavy Metals
Maria Beatriz Guinto Villanueva,a Shinji Koizumi,b and Hiroshi Jonai*, b
aOccupational Safety and Health Center, North Avenue cor. Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1104, Philippines and bNational Institute of Industrial Health, 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan
The effects of heavy metal exposure on the immune system were determined by measuring cytokine production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (h-PBMCs) from a healthy female. The h-PBMCs were exposed for 3 d to CdSO4, K2Cr2O7, and HgCl2 at 1, 5, 10 mu M and to (CH3COO)Pb at 10, 50, and 100 mu M.
Concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha,
and interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were quantified using the ELISA method. The results showed that the cytokines assayed were differentially affected by heavy metal exposure. Chromium significantly increased the production of IL-1beta while decreasing the production of IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10.
Mercury at low concentrations increased the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.
At higher concentrations, an opposite effect was seen. Cytokines may function as biomarkers in elucidating the mechanisms of the immunotoxic effects of heavy metals.
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