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Dynamics of lymphocyte subsets in children living in an area polluted by polychlorinated biphenyls
M Horváthová1, E Jahnová, L Palkovičová
1Department of Immunology and Immunotoxicology, Bratislava, Slovakia. mira.horvathova@szu.sk
Insights
Early life exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alters immune cell development in children. Environmental PCB contamination is linked to significant changes in lymphocyte subsets, indicating a post-natal immune response.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Immune system development in early life has lifelong health implications.
- Prenatal and early-life exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is linked to altered immune function and increased infectious/allergic diseases in children.
- Lymphocyte immunophenotyping is crucial for diagnosing immune and blood disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early-life environmental PCB exposure and lymphocyte subset changes in children.
- To compare immune cell populations in children from areas with high versus lower PCB contamination.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a lysed whole blood method for lymphocyte sub-population analysis.
- Collected samples from children in two districts with differing environmental PCB levels (Michalovce - high, Svidnik/Stropkov - lower).
- Analyzed samples at birth (cord blood), 6 months, and 16 months of age.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in B-lymphocytes (CD19(+)), activated HLADR(+)CD19(+) cells, and CD8(+) T-lymphocytes were observed at 6 and 16 months compared to cord blood in both regions.
- CD4(+) T-lymphocytes declined, and Natural Killer (NK) cell levels decreased significantly in both regions, with greater reductions in the highly contaminated area.
- Children in the highly contaminated Michalovce region showed higher CD3(+) T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and activated B-lymphocytes, but lower NK cell expression compared to the less-contaminated region, even after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Early-life environmental PCB exposure is associated with significant alterations in major lymphocyte subsets in children.
- These findings suggest a discernible post-natal immune system response to PCB exposure during critical developmental periods.
- Environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies are important for protecting child immune health in contaminated areas.
Abstract:
Immune system development, particularly in the pre-natal and early post-natal periods, has far-reaching health consequences during childhood, as well as throughout life. Exposure to poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pre-natal and early life has been previously associated with changes in the incidence of infectious and allergic diseases in children, and humoral immunity alterations. Lymphocyte immunophenotyping is an important tool in the diagnosis of immunologic and hematologic disorders. This study used a lysed whole blood method for analysis of lymphocyte sub-populations in samples from children born and living in two districts: a highly-contaminated area (Michalovce) and one (Svidnik/Stropkov) with ≈ 2-fold lower environmental PCB levels. The percentages of B-lymphocytes (CD19(+)), activated HLADR(+)CD19(+) cells, and CD8(+) T-lymphocytes significantly increased at 6- and 16-months-of-age in both selected regions as compared to in cord blood values (p < 0.001). Levels of CD3(+) cells increased significantly (from 61 to 65%) in samples from Michalovce (p < 0.01). Levels of CD4(+) T-lymphocytes declined 10% among 16-month-olds in both regions (Michalovce at p < 0.001 and Svidnik/Stropkov at p < 0.01). Natural killer (NK) cell levels decreased 50% in Michalovce 6- and 16-month-old children and 42% among 6-month-olds in Svidnik/Stropkov (p < 0.001). Compared with the less-contaminated region, Michalovce samples showed significantly higher expression of CD3(+) T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and activated B-lymphocytes, whereas NK cells were less expressed. Even after adjustment for selected covariates, e.g., maternal cigarette smoking, age, parity, ethnicity, birth weight, and gender of infant, the levels of CD19(+), HLADR(+)CD19(+), and CD3(-)CD(16 + 56)(+) cells were seen to remain significantly different between the districts. These results showed that early-life environmental PCB exposure was associated with fluctuations in major lymphocyte subsets in children, suggesting that there is a post-natal immune system response to PCB exposures.
