Formaldehyde exposure induces differentiation of regulatory T cells via the NFAT-mediated T cell receptor signalling pathway in Yucatan minipigs

Abstract

The use of minipigs (Sus scrofa) as a platform for toxicological and pharmacological research is well established. In the present study, we investigated the effect of formaldehyde (FA) exposure on helper T cell-mediated splenic immune responses in Yucatan minipigs. The minipigs were exposed to different inhaled concentrations of FA (0, 2.16, 4.62, or 10.48 mg/m3) for a period of 2 weeks. Immune responses elicited by exposure to FA were determined by assessing physiological parameters, mRNA expression, and cytokine production. Additionally, the distribution of helper T cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells and expression of NFAT families, which are well-known T cell receptor signalling proteins associated with regulatory T cell development, were evaluated. Exposure to FA suppressed the expression of genes associated with Th1 and Th2 cells in minipigs in a concentration-dependent manner. The subsequent production of cytokines also declined post-FA exposure. Furthermore, exposure to FA induced the differentiation of CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells with divergent expression levels of NFAT1 and NFAT2. These results indicated that exposure to FA increased the Treg cell population via the NFAT-mediated T cell receptor signalling pathway, leading to suppression of effector T cell activity with a decline in T cell-related cytokine production.

Riesgos de exposición al formaldehído en el personal de salud

“…Por lo cual se concluyó que los estudiantes y profesores de medicina que están en la sala de disección tienen un alto riesgo de desarrollar varios efectos agudos por la exposición al formaldehído. Park et al, 2022 realizaron un estudio utilizando minicerdos (Sus scrofa) como plataforma de comparación para investigar los efectos de la exposición al formaldehído (FA) en las respuestas inmunitarias esplénicas mediadas por células T-helper. Los minicerdos fueron expuestos a diferentes concentraciones inhaladas FA (0, 2,16, 4,62 o 10,48 mg/m 3) durante un período de 2 semanas.…”