JP-8 jet fuel exposure suppresses the immune response to viral infections

Abstract

The US Air Force has implemented the widespread use of JP-8 jet fuel in its operations, although a thorough understanding of its potential effects upon exposed personnel is unclear. Previous work has reported that JP-8 exposure is immunosuppressive. Exposure of mice to JP-8 for 1 h/day resulted in immediate secretion of two immunosuppressive agents, namely, interleukin-10 and prostaglandin E2. Thus, it was of interest to determine if jet fuel exposure might alter the immune response to infectious agents. The Hong Kong influenza model was used for these studies. Mice were exposed to 1000 mg/m 3 JP-8 (1 h/day) for 7 days before influenza viral infection. Animals were infected intranasally with virus and followed in terms of overall survival as well as immune responses. All surviving animals were killed 14 days after viral infection. In the present study, JP-8 exposure increased the severity of the viral infection by suppressing the anti-viral immune responses. That is, exposure of mice to JP-8 for 1 h/day for 7 days before infection resulted in decreased immune cell viability after exposure and infection, a greater than fourfold decrease in immune proliferative responses to mitogens, as well as an overall loss of CD3 + , CD4 + , and CD8 + T cells from the lymph nodes, but not the spleens, of infected animals. These changes resulted in decreased survival of the exposed and infected mice, with only 33% of animals surviving as compared with 50% of mice infected but not jet fuel-exposed (and 100% of mice exposed only to JP-8). Thus, short-term, low-concentration JP-8 jet fuel exposures have significant suppressive effects on the immune system which can result in increased severity of viral infections. Toxicology and Industrial Health 2008; 24: 209-216.

Hydrocarbons (jet fuel JP-8) induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity, reproductive disease and sperm epimutations

“…Previous studies with hydrocarbons have shown following direct exposure toxicological effects such as adverse effects in lung ventilatory function [17], immune dysfunction [18, 25], increased tumor formation [26], and suppressed immune response to viral infections [27]. In the current study, the F1 generation animals of jet fuel lineage showed an increase in the incidence of adult-onset disease/abnormalities including prostate disease, kidney disease, ovarian primordial follicle loss, polycystic ovarian disease, pubertal abnormalities, and an overall increase in total and multiple disease/abnormalities.…”

“…In animal models low toxicity of JP-8 has been reported to cause slight dermal irritation, weak dermal sensitization, respiratory tract sensory irritation, hearing loss, nephropathy, and immunosuppressive and neurobehavioral effects [24]. Previous studies have also shown adverse effects in lung ventilatory function [17], immune dysfunction [18, 25], increased tumor formation [26] and suppressed immune response to viral infections [27]. There are no reports regarding potential epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease from JP-8 exposed gestating females.…”

Jet Fuel Kerosene is not Immunosuppressive in Mice or Rats Following Inhalation for 28 Days

“…The report by Hilgaertner et al (2011) demonstrates JP-8-related immunosuppressive effects, including decreased spleen and thymus weights at exposure levels ≥1000 mg/m 3 and reduced IFN- γ production at doses ≥4000 mg/m 3 . Hilgaertner et al (2011) also indicated that these exposures were equivalent to aerosol exposures of 125 and 500 mg/m 3 in the early reports by Harris et al (1997, 2000a, 2000b, 2002, 2007, 2008). These results, which contrast with those in the present study evaluating the base jet fuel kerosene, suggest the possibility that the additives, and not the jet fuel kerosene, are primarily responsible for the immunosuppressive effects of JP-8 jet fuel.…”

“…A number of previous studies indicated that JP-8 is an immunotoxicant following nose-only inhalation (Harris et al, 1997, 2000a, 2000b, 2002, 2007, 2008), dermal exposure (Ramos et al, 2002, 2007; Ullrich, 1999; Ullrich and Lyons, 2000), and oral gavage (Keil et al, 2004; Peden-Adams et al, 2001). The inhalation and dermal studies of others implicated CMI as the primary target, while no effects on humoral immunity were observed on the T-dependent antibody response (TDAR) to KLH in the dermal studies.…”

“…However, a series of later studies by Harris et al (1997, 2000a, 2000b, 2002) reported significant effects on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in C57BL/6 mice exposed (1 h/d for 7 d) to JP-8 aerosol at concentrations as low as 100 mg/m 3 . Further, Harris et al (2007, 2008) also reported that JP-8 jet fuel inhalation resulted in increased B16F10 melanoma tumor burden and a decreased resistance to influenza A virus in exposed animals.…”