Impact of dichloroethane on the microbicidal activity of neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes

Abstract

Aim. To study the damaging effect of dichloroethane on the functional state of neutrophils and peritoneal macrophages. 
 Methods. Dichloroethane was administered to animals intragastrically daily in olive oil at a dose of 0.84 mg/kg of body weight for 60 days so that the total dose was 0.1 of 50% lethal dose. The number of leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes in peripheral blood, intensity of oxygen-dependant metabolism (induced test with nitro blue tetrazolium), antimicrobial activity in the conditions of functioning and blockade (by sodium azide), oxygen-dependent factors of microbicidity, content of myeloperoxidase and cationic proteins in neutrophils and peritoneal macrophages were measured. The results were recorded the next day after introduction of the toxicant. Fungicidal activity was measured by the number of colony-forming units of C. albicans, growing on day 3 at culture medium. 
 Results. Intoxication with dichloroethane for 60 days leads to the formation of leukopenia, mainly due to the decreased number of neutrophils while reducing the number of lymphocytes. This is accompanied by inhibition of oxygen-dependant killing of neutrophils as a result of suppression of peroxidase-dependant mechanisms of microbicidity (the formation of oxygen active forms decreases). Besides, decrease of activity of oxygen-independant mechanisms of killing develops, which correlates with a reduction of cationic proteins level. Suppression of oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms of microbicidity of peritoneal macrophages. This is accompanied by a decrease of oxygen-dependant metabolism intensity, myeloperoxidase activity and cationic protein level in these cells. 
 Conclusion. Intoxication with dichloroethane for 60 days in a total dose of 0.1 of 50% lethal dose has a profound damaging effect on the cells of phagocytic link of nonspecific resistance: formation of leukopenia, suppression of oxidative metabolism and microbicidal activity of neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes occur.