Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant compound. It is used in polystyrene insulation, accumulates in living organisms and is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. HBCD exposure may have health effects on humans as it has been found in human blood serum. Previous studies have shown that it alters the ability of natural killer (NK) lymphocytes to destroy tumor cells. Interferon gamma (IFN?) is an inflammatory cytokine that is produced by activated T cells and NK cells. It is a glycoprotein which has the ability to control the immune system and inhibit viral infections that attack the human body. The objective of this study is to examine whether HBCD is able to affect the secretion of IFN? from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs include T and NK lymphocytes as well as monocytes. They were prepared by back flushing leukocyte filters followed by further enrichment using a density gradient, Interferon gamma secretion was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).  The results indicate that exposures of PBMCs  to different concentrations of HBCD (ranging from 5-0.05 �M) for 24h, 48h, and 6 days influence the ability of immune cells to secrete interferon gamma. The results indicate that 24 h exposures to HBCD at 1 �M or lower  increased secretion of IFN? from the PBMCs of  all donors examined. When PBMCs were exposed to HBCD for 48 h, the effect of HBCD on IFN? secretion was similar to that seen at 24 h. These data suggest that exposure to HBCD may significantly disrupt the immune regulation mediated by IFN?.

Secretion of interferon gamma (IFNY) from human immune cells is altered by exposure to hexabromocyclododecane

248th National Meeting (2014)

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