Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Immune Alteration in the Japanese Medaka Oryzias Latipes: Probing the Underlying Cellular Mechanisms
Abstract
Increasing public concerns regarding the use of mammals in toxicological studies have led researchers to seek "alternative models" to investigate the biological effects of xenobiotics. Due to its small size and adaptability to a laboratory environment, the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) lends itself well to such studies. Although medaka are used routinely for carcinogenicity testing, little emphasis has been placed upon this species for assessing the immunotoxic effects of chemicals. Given the known effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on the immune system of mammals, studies were conducted using medaka to examine the effects and cellular mechanisms by which exposure to BaP might alter the immune status of this laboratory fish model. Results demonstrated that IP treatment with BaP suppressed medaka lymphocyte proliferation, T-lymphocyte dependent antibody-forming cell (AFC) numbers, and phagocyte intracellular superoxide production. Thus, exposure of medaka to BaP resulted in suppression of both innate and adaptive immune parameters. Additional experiments demonstrated induction of CYPlA expression and activity within kidney tubules and mononuclear immune cells, indicating that medaka immune organs/cells are capable of metabolizing BaP into immunotoxic metabolites in situ.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA414461
Entities
People
- Erik A. Carlson
Organizations
- Grossman School of Medicine