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Analysis of T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in the individuals exposed to arsenic.
- Source :
-
Human & Experimental Toxicology . May2008, Vol. 27 Issue 5, p381-386. 6p. 3 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Over six million people in nine districts of West Bengal, India are exposed to very high levels of arsenic primarily through their drinking water. More than 300,000 people showed arsenic-induced skin lesions in these districts. This is regarded as the greatest arsenic calamity in the world. Chronic arsenicosis causes varied dermatological signs ranging from pigmentation changes, hyperkeratosis to non-melanocytic cancer of skin, and also malignancies in different internal organs. Higher incidences of opportunistic infections are found in the arsenic-exposed individuals, indicating that their immune systems may be impaired somehow. We have thus investigated the effect of arsenic on T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in 20 individuals with arsenic-induced skin lesions and compared the results with 18 arsenic-unexposed individuals. A marked dose-dependent suppression of Concanavalin A (Con A) induced T-cell proliferation was observed in the arsenic-exposed individuals compared with the unexposed (P < 0.001) individuals. This correlated with a significant decrease in the levels of secreted cytokines by the T cells (TNF-α, IFN-γ, 1L2, IL10, 1L5, and 1L4) in the exposed individuals (P < 0.001). Thus it can be inferred that arsenic exposure can cause immunosuppression in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09603271
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Human & Experimental Toxicology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34608656
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327108094607