Immunosuppressive Effects of Jetfuel and Its Mechanism of Action
Abstract
Applying military jet fuel (JP-8) to the skin of mice activates systemic immune suppression. In all of the previous experiments, JP-8 was applied to immunologically naive mice. The effect of jet fuels on established immune reactions, such as immunological memory, is unknown. The focus of the experiments presented here was to test the hypothesis that jet fuel exposure (both JP-8 and commercial jet fuel; Jet-A) suppresses established immune reactions. Mice were immunized with the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans and at different times after immunization (10 to 30 days) various doses of undiluted JP-8 or Jet-A were applied to their skin. Both the elicitation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), as measured when mice were challenged 10 days after immunization and immunologic memory (mice challenged 30 days after immunization) were significantly suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner. Dermal exposure to JP-8 and/or Jet-A, either multiple small doses (50 microliters over 4 days) or a single large dose (approx. =200-3OO microliters) suppressed DTH to C. albicans. Also, the ability of splenic T-lymphocytes from JP-8 and/or Jet-A treated mice to proliferate to plate-bound anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody was significantly suppressed. The mechanism by which dermal application of JP-8 and Jet-A suppresses immunological memory involves the release of immune biologic response modifiers. Blocking the production of prostaglandin E2 (POE2) by a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (SC 236) significantly reversed jet fuel-induced suppression of immununologic memory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA403143
Entities
People
- Ramos Gerardo
Organizations
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston