Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
권호 표지

Influence of Chronic Low-Level Exposure to Toluene on Cell-Mediated Immunity

만성적인 저 농도 톨루엔 노출이 세포성면역 기능에 미치는 영향

  • Jang, SeungHee (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Choi, Yun-Jung (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Kim, Ki-Woong (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)
  • 장승희 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 최윤정 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김기웅 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Published : 2013.09.30
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level exposure to toluene on T lymphocytes subpopulations.s. Methods: The study lasted from April to October 2010. The subjects were 390 male workers, among whom 137 were chronically exposed to toluene in video-tape manufacturing factories and 253 were controls had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous chemicals. The subpoupulations of CD4+, CD8+, CD16+ (natural killer cells) and total (CD3+) T lymphocytes were examined by two-color staining using monoclonal antibodies. The general and job characteristics of subjects were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: There was no significant difference in general and job characteristics between both groups. No significant difference in lipid peroxide level was observed between the control and exposed workers, but the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was significantly higher in the exposed workers. The numbers of CD16+ T lymphocytes in controls were significantly higher than those in exposed workers, but no significant differences were found in CD4+, CD8+ and CD3+ T lymphocytes. Hydrogen peroxide levels showed a significantly negative correlation with CD8+ (r = -0.29, p < 0.01), CD16+ (r = -0.56, p < 0.01) and CD3+(r = -0.22. p < 0.01), and toluene levels was significantly negative correlated with CD3+ (r = -0.29, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that chronic low-level exposure to toluene affects cell-mediated immunity and the effects might mediate through ROSs (Reactive Oxygen Species) such as hydrogen peroxide.

Keywords

References

  1. ACGIH. TLVs(R) and BEIs(R) Based on the Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents & Biological Exposure Indices 2013
  2. Allan IM, Lunec J, Salmon M, Bacon PA. Reactive oxygen species selectively deplete normal T lymphocytes via a hydroxyl radical dependent mechanism. Scand J Immunol 1987;26:47-53 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3083.1987.tb02233.x
  3. Bechoua S, Dubois M, Dominguez Z, Goncalves A, Nemoz G, Lagarde M, Prigent A-F. Protective effect of docosahexaenoic acid against hydrogen peroxideinduced oxidative stress in Human lymphocytes. Biochem Pharmacol 1999;57:1021-1030 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-2952(99)00012-X
  4. Cabral GA. Lipids as bioeffectors in the immune system. Life Science 2005;77:1699-1710 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2005.05.013
  5. Celis RD, Feria-Velasco A, Bravo-Cuellar A, Hicks- Gomez JJ, Garcia-Iglesias T and et al. Expression of NK cells activation receptors after occupational exposure to toxics: A preliminary study. Immunology Letters 2008;118:125-131 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2008.03.010
  6. Choi J-H, Yu BP. Brain synaptosomal aging: Free radicals and membrane fluidity. Free Rad Biol Med 1995; 18:133-139 https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-5849(94)00106-T
  7. Cockerham LG, Shane BS. Basic environmental toxicology. In: Hansen LG, Shane BS, editors. Xenobiotic metabolism. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida; 2000. p. 49-74
  8. de Carvalho D, Lanchote VL, Bonato PS, Queiroz RH, Santos AC, Dreossi SA. A new derivatization procedure for the analysis of hippuric acid and mmethyl- hippuric acid by gas chromatography. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1991;63:33-37 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406195
  9. Foo SC, Jeyaratnam J, Koh D. Chronic neurobehavioural effects of toluene. Br J Ind Med 1990;47:480-484
  10. Garg AK, Aggarwal BB. Reactive oxygen intermediates in TNF signaling. Mol Immunology 2002;39:509-517 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-5890(02)00207-9
  11. International Programme on Chemical Safety(IPCS). Toluene. Environmental Health Criteria 52, WHO, Geneva, 1985
  12. Karl HC, Jens S. Toluene, a toxicologic reviw. Scan J Work Environ Health 1979:5:71-89 https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.2664
  13. Kim HA. Biological Monitoring of Exposure to Chemicals (I). Korean journal of occupational health 1990:29 (3):91-101
  14. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA). Practice Guide of Workers' medical examination (Health part-technology data -Research Institute 2012- Research Institute-406), Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2012.
  15. Kraaij MD, van der Kooij SW, Reinders MEJ, Koekkoek K, Rabelink TJ, van Kooten C, Gelderman KA. Dexamethasone increases ROS production and T cell suppressive capacity by anti-inflammatory macrophages. Molecular Immunology 2011;49:549-557 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2011.10.002
  16. Mattia CJ, LeBel CP, Bondy SC. Effects of toluene and its metabolites on cerebral reactive oxygen species generation. Biochem Pharmacol 1991;42:879-882 https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-2952(91)90048-A
  17. McCord JM, Fridovich I. Superoxide dismutase; Enzymatic function erythrocuperin (hematocuprein). J Bio Chem 1969;244:6049-6055
  18. Morreta A, Bottino C, Tripodi G, Vitale M, Pende D, Morelli L. et al. Novel surface molecules involved in human NK cell activation and triggering of the lytic machinery. Int J Cancer 1992;(7):6-10
  19. Morreta L, Biassoni R, Bottino C, Mingari M, Moretta A. NAtural Killer cells: a mystery no more. Sdand J Immunol 2002;55:229-32 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3083.2002.01055.x
  20. Moro AM, Brucker N, Charao M, Bulcao R, Freitas F et al. Evaluation of genotoxicity and oxidative damage in painters exposed to low levels of toluene. Mutation Research 2012;746:42-48 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2012.02.007
  21. Murata M, Tsujikawa M, Kawanishi S. Oxidative DNA damage by minor metabolites of toluene may lead to carcinogenesis and reproductive dysfunction. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1999;261478-483
  22. NIOSH. NIOSH manual of analytical methods, 4th ed., Method 1051, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, 1996
  23. Ryan J, Naper C, Hayashi S, Daws M. Physiologic functions of activating natural killer(NK) complexencoded receptors on NK cells. Immunol Rev 2001; 181:126-37 https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-065X.2001.1810110.x
  24. Sarma SN, Kim Y-J, Jeon HK, Ryu J-C. Identification of immune responsive genes on benzene, toluene and o-xylene in Jurkat cells using 35 k human oligomicroarray. Mol Cell Toxicol 2006;2:229-235
  25. Sarma SN, Kim Y-J, Song M, Ryu J-C. Induction of apoptosis in human leukemia cells through the production of reactive oxygen species and activation of HMOX1 and Noxa by benzene, toluene, and oxylene. Toxicology 2011;280:109-117 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2010.11.017
  26. Tabatabaie T, Floyd RA. Inactivation of glutathione peroxidase by benzaldehyde. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1996;141:389-393 https://doi.org/10.1006/taap.1996.0304
  27. Tomei G, Tomei F, Ciarrocca M, Bernardini A, Capozzella A et al. Plasma IL-2, NK, IFN-${\gamma}$, and C3 in male workers exposed to traffic pollutants. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2006:22:131-135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2006.01.003
  28. Yagi K. Lipid peroxide and human disease. Chem Physic Lipids 1987;45:337-351 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-3084(87)90071-5