Lead acetate toxicity on human lymphocytes at non-cytotoxic concentrations detected in human blood

Lead (Pb) is one of the most important heavy metals that possess many applications in different kinds of industrial procedures and consumer products. The adverse effects of Pb on different parts of the immune system have been reported in various studies. Although it has been shown that high concentrations of Pb have low cytotoxicity on human lymphocytes, the effects of non-cytotoxic concentrations of Pb (detected in human blood) on cellular organelles and oxidative stress factors of human lymphocytes have yet to be determined. In this study, human lymphocytes were obtained from the blood of healthy male volunteers through the use of the Ficoll standard method. The intention of this paper was to determine the effects of non-cytotoxic concentrations of Pb on human lymphocytes using the accelerated cytotoxicity mechanism screening technique. For determination of cell viability, lymphocytes were treated with 0–1 mm Pb for 12 h. Subsequently, we assayed the effects of non-cytotoxic concentrations of Pb which are detected in human blood on human lymphocytes and investigated if Pb can affect oxidative stress and cellular organelles at these concentrations. So, in concentrations which have no cytotoxic effects, Pb is shown to induce oxidative stress in addition to inflicting damage on mitochondria and lysosomes in human blood lymphocytes.