Influence of dietary polybrominated biphenyl on antibody and host defense responses in mice

Abstract

Male Balb cByJ mice were fed diets containing 5 or 167 ppm of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (Firemaster, FFl, lot No. 7042) for either 3 or 6 weeks and then evaluated for their ability to produce antibody and to resist a challenge with malaria or endotoxin. Animals which received a dietary exposure of either 5 or 167 ppm of PBB for 3 or 6 weeks manifested no alteration in their resistance to a challenge infection with Plasmodium berghei (NYU-2), a lethal murine malaria parasite. However, mice which were fed a diet containing 167 ppm of PBB for 3 or 6 weeks had a significant increase in endotoxin (LPS) sensitivity while no change in LPS sensitivity was observed in mice fed 5 ppm of PBB. Peak primary antibody production to sheep erythrocytes, expressed as PFC 10 6 spleen cells, was reduced almost 50% in mice fed a diet containing 167 ppm for 3 weeks, however, no change in PFC 10 6 cells was observed at 6 weeks. A dietary level of 5 ppm of PBB did not alter primary antibody formation at either 3 or 6 weeks. The peak secondary PFC response in both 5- and 167-ppm-treated groups was delayed by 1 day, relative to control values. PFC 10 6 cells, measured on the day of the peak control response, were depressed 60% at 3 weeks and over 85% at 6 weeks at both doses. Serum IgM levels in the mice receiving 167 ppm of PBB were reduced 23–63% during the I° and II° responses, serum IgG was only moderately reduced and serum IgA was unaltered throughout the study. These results suggest that PBB has a minimal effect on antibody production to T-dependent antigens or on host defense to protozoan parasites yet causes a selective depletion of serum immunoglobulin isotypes. The marked increase in LPS sensitivity suggests a compromised macrophage detoxification capability.