The Effects of Inhalation of Organic Chemical Air Contaminants on Murine Lung Host Defenses

Assessment of the immunotoxic potential of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in rats following inhalation exposure

“…As part of this study we also evaluated the effect of PERC on the ability of pulmonary alveolar macrophage to phagocytize fluorescent microspheres, as previous studies have suggested potential alterations in macrophage activity after exposure to PERC. One study reported that mice exposed for 3 h to a 50 ppm PERC atmosphere showed decreased pulmonary bactericidal activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (Aranyi et al, 1986); however, the significance of this result is uncertain due to the variability in the responses observed in control animals and the overall relevance of this response to humans (ATSDR, 1997a;ECETOC, 1999). Immunological monitoring of dry-cleaning workers has also suggested potential effects on the response of the respiratory immune system, such as alveolar macrophage activity (Andrys et al, 1997).…”

“…The maximum concentration of PERC in this study was 6.8 ppm but, because the study involved assessment of a mixture, the contribution of PERC to this effect cannot be assessed. Another study reported that mice exposed for 3 h to an atmosphere of PERC at 50 ppm showed an increase in susceptibility to lung infection by S. zooepidemicus and decreased pulmonary bactericidal activity to K. pneumoniae (Aranyi et al, 1986). However, the significance of this result is uncertain due to the variability in the responses observed in control animals and the overall relevance of this response to humans (ATSDR, 1997a;ECETOC, 1999).…”

“…A more recent developmental immunotoxicity study reported reductions in antibody responses to SRBC in B6C3F1 mice following 3 and 8 weeks of exposure to drinking water containing TCE at concentrations of 1.4 and 14 ppm (Peden-Adams et al, 2006). Aranyi et al (1986) reported that mice exposed to TCE by inhalation for 3 h at ≥ 10 ppm became more susceptible to infection by Streptococcus zooepi-demicus administered simultaneously as an aerosol, while pulmonary bactericidal activity against [ 35 S]-Klebsiella pneumonia appeared unaffected. Another study reported reduced serum IgG antibody levels in MRL-lpr/lpr male mice (a mouse model for systemic autoimmunity) during…”

Immunotoxic Effects of Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene

“…58) CD1 mice exhibited increased susceptibility to infectious agents (e.g., Streptococcus zooepidimicus, Klebsiella pneumoniae) with short-term inhalation of TCE ranging from 2.6 to 48 ppm. 59) In another study, after 3 days of single intraperitoneal injections of TCE in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 0.05, 0.5, or 5 mmol/kg per day and B6C3F mice at 10 mmol/kg per day, natural killer cell activity in the liver was depressed in rats given the highest dose (22% lower than control levels, p < 0.05); in mice, a smaller decrease was reported (14% lower than control levels, no significant difference). 60) …”

Development of a Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Model of Trichloroethylene and Its Metabolites for Use in Risk Assessment

“…Several target tissues have also been identified for the noncancer toxicity of TCE, including the liver (73), kidney (65,66), CNS (74), immune system (75,76), and developing fetus (77). As in the case of the carcinogenicity of TCE, several of these noncancer end points appear to be associated with exposure to the metabolites of TCE rather than to the parent chemical itself (73,78).…”