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Biomedical subjects

J B Silkworth

Publications and source records attributed to J B Silkworth.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Environmental chemical-induced modification of cell-mediated immune responses.

It is therefore proposed that: 1) environmental chemicals can have specific mechanisms of toxicity and can influence antibody-mediated immunity while having no detectable effect on cell-mediated immunity, 2) immune dysfunction is related to exposure time to a chemical and the tissue concentration of that chemical, 3) recovery of immune function may occur even though chemical exposure continues, and 4) a single assay of immune function may not be appropriate to detect chemical induced immune dysfunction.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Environmental chemical-induced immune dysfunction.

Antibody formation, endotoxin sensitivity, and resistance to a challenge malarial infection were evaluated in mice fed a diet containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (Aroclor 1242) or hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Antibody synthesis to the antigen sheep RBC (SRBC) was significantly depressed in the PCB- and HCB-treated (167 ppm) animals as evidenced by the fact that control mice elicited an approximate twofold increase in antibody formation over the chemical-treated mice. Serum IgA concentrations in the PCB- and HCB-treated mice were consistently 40--80 mg/dl lower than control values. Gram-negative endotoxin (Salmonella typhosa) sensitivity in PCB- and HCB-treated mice was increased 5.2- and 32-fold, respectively, following the dietary administration of 167 ppm of Aroclor 1242 or HCB for 6 weeks. An endotoxin hypersusceptibility was also noted at 3 weeks after dietary administration. Decreased resistance to a malaria challenge was also demonstrated in the xenobiotic-treated mice. A 20% decrease in mean survival time of mice fed Aroclor 1242 for 3 to 6 weeks and inoculated with Plasmodium berghei (NYU-2) was observed. Infected mice which had received HCB for 3 or 6 weeks manifested reductions in mean survival time of 24 and 31%, respectively. The data indicated that environmental chemical contaminants impair host resistance and, since no concomitant histopathological alterations were observed in the treated mice, the evaluation of immune parameters may possibly be a sensitive indicator of toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Impaired host resistance to endotoxin and malaria in polychlorinated biphenyl- and hexachlorobenzene-treated mice.

The in vivo effect of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) on murine endotoxin sensitivity and resistance to malaria (Plasmodium berghei NYU-2) infection was studied. The dietary administration of 167 ppm (167 microgram/g) of PCB 1242 or HCB for 3 weeks resulted in an enhanced sensitivity to gram-negative endotoxin (Salmonella typhosa), which was further increased in animals maintained on the diets for 6 weeks. By 6 weeks, a 5.2- or 32-fold increase in endotoxin sensitivity was seen in mice fed PCB or HCB, respectively. A 20% decrease in mean survival time of mice fed PCB 1242 for 3 or 6 weeks and inoculated with malaria was demonstrated. Infected mice that received HCB for 3 or 6 weeks manifested a reduction in mean survival time of 24 or 31%, respectively. Histopathological examination revealed a normal thymus, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and lungs. Centrilobular and pericentral hepatocyte hypertrophy, common to organochlorine exposure, was observed. Electron capture gas chromatographic analysis for PCB 1242 or HCB in the tissues examined histologically revealed a significant deposit of the xenobiotics. HCB concentration was approximately 16 to 25 times greater than that of PCB. The data indicate that environmental chemicals impair host resistance and that the alteration may be related to the presence of the chemicals in the lymphoreticular organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Influence of cadmium on the phagocytic and microbicidal activity of murine peritoneal macrophages, pulmonary alveolar macrophages, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

A significant depression in the phagocytic capacity of elicited peritoneal macrophages, pulmonary alveolar macrophages, and elicited peritoneal polymorphonucleated neutrophils was manifested when the cells were incubated in medium containing cadmium chloride. With the exception of the neutrophils, a similar influence was observed when the cells were exposed to cadmium acetate. The impaired phagocytic capacity was related to the concentration of the cadmium in the medium. Peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils did not demonstrate any alteration in their microbicidal activity (percentage of ingested yeast which were killed) in the presence of the cadmium salts. However, a significant suppression in the intracellular microbicidal activity of alveolar macrophages was observed when the cells were incubated in medium containing either cadmium chloride or cadmium acetate. This unique response to Cd2+ may be related to general metabolic characteristics of these cells living at an elevated O2 tension.

Animals↗