Prenatal HgCl2 exposure in BALB/c mice: gender-specific effects on the ontogeny of the immune system

Silva, I. A.; Nabawi, M. El; Hoover, Dennis J.; Silbergeld, Ellen K.

doi:10.1016/j.dci.2004.05.008

Cited by 33 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…This may, in part, be due to alterations in cytokine production since prenatal exposure of BALB/c mice to mercuric chloride induced distinctive profiles of splenic and lymph node cytokine production in pre-weaned pups (Silva et al, 2005). More importantly, the altered cytokine production persisted in adult mice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the long-term immune consequences of these phenotypic changes are unknown, disruptions of lymphocytic maturational events could potentially lead to altered postnatal immune responses. Indeed, HgCl 2 exposure has recently been found to induce changes in postnatal immune function as well as sex-specific modulations in cytokine production of adults (Silva et al, 2005). On the other hand, exposure of adult CD-1 mice to levels of mercuric chloride that were 10-fold higher (100 ppm) for a more protracted period, did not induce changes in T-cell and B-cell phenotypes (Brunet et al, 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several groups have reported that the developing fetal immune system is especially vulnerable to the immunotoxic effects of various environmental xenobiotics such as mercury (Silva et al, 2005) and other heavy metals (Dietert et al, 2004). Further, the immune alterations that result from exposure may be irreversible and highly exacerbated compared to adult exposures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In animal models, in utero HgCl 2 exposure of BALB/c mice was found to induce alterations in immune functions that persisted long after cessation of exposure (Silva et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prenatal HgCl₂Exposure Alters Fetal Cell Phenotypes

Pilones¹,

Lai²,

Gavalchin³

2007

Journal of Immunotoxicology

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Here we sought to determine whether prenatal exposure to subtoxic levels of inorganic mercury induced modulations in the fetal immune repertoire. After overnight breeding of female BALB/c and male DBA/1 mice, pregnant females were exposed to 10 mg/l mercuric chloride in drinking water. DBF 1 pups were examined at day 16 of gestation for immunophenotypic changes in the fetal thymus and liver. While total thymocyte counts remained comparable to unexposed controls, intrauterine mercury exposure was found to modulate several immune phenotypes in the fetal thymus. Specifically, we saw an increase in the percentages of double negative (DN, CD4 − CD8 − ) cells as well as a reduction in the numbers of cells representing activation phenotypes (CD4 + CD25 + ). In the liver, we observed modulations that suggested skewing of the development of B220+ -expressing cells with mercury exposure. Further, we saw increased populations of thymic and splenic lymphocytes reactive with a pathogenic idiotypic determinant Id LN F 1, which is associated with spontaneous autoimmune nephritis in (NZB × SWR)F 1 (SNF 1 ) mice. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that dysregulation of the Id LN F 1 idiotypic network, particularly the expansion of idiotype-reactive T-and B-lymphocytes, is key in the development of lupus nephritis in the autoimmune SNF 1 mouse. These studies show that acute exposure to relatively low levels of inorganic mercury in utero may alter the fetal immune repertoire which could potentially modulate post-natal immune responses.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In animal models, in utero HgCl 2 exposure of BALB/c mice was found to induce alterations in immune functions that persisted long after cessation of exposure (Silva et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Prenatal HgCl₂Exposure Alters Fetal Cell Phenotypes

Pilones¹,

Lai²,

Gavalchin³

2007

Journal of Immunotoxicology

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show abstract

“…On the other hand, data in animal models have demonstrated more consistently the adverse effects associated with gestational exposure to mercury. For example, injection of pregnant BALB/c mice with mercuric chloride resulted in modulation of cytokine production in adult offspring in a sex-dependent manner, strongly suggesting that immune dysfunction after in utero mercury exposure persisted long after termination of exposure (Silva et al, 2005). Further, persistent effects of gestational exposures to other known immunomodulating xenobiotics, including lead (Miller et al, 1998) and TCDD (Vordestrasse et al, 2006), have also been reported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%