Abstract
Female BDF 1 mice were exposed to lead in the drinking water at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 ppm lead for 3 weeks. Immunological studies demonstrated that lead suppressed macrophage-dependent immune responses. The functional activity of the macrophage was evaluated by the Mishell-Dutton, in vitro, antibody production technique. Lead suppressed the immune response when the macrophage-dependent antigens, sheep red blood cells or dinitrophenyl-Ficoll, were utilized, but the response to the macrophage-independent antigen, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, was not suppressed. The macrophage substitute, 2-mercaptoethanol, caused restoration of the lead-suppressed immune response. The immune responses seen in the four combinations of adherent/nonadherent and lead-exposed/non-lead-exposed cell cultures, were suppressed only in cultures containing lead-exposed adherent cells. The immunosuppressive effects of lead were produced at relatively low lead exposures as indicated by the blood lead concentrations. Weight gains and water consumption were not affected by these lead exposures. The low level lead exposure effects manifested by immunosuppression indicate that immune dysfunction is a sensitive indicator of lead exposure.
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