Toxic effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on mononuclear phagocytes

Benzene is a potent bone marrow toxin in animals and man. Animal studies have shown that exposure to benzene can alter T lymphocyte functions and decrease the resistance of animals to Listeria monocytogenes and transplanted tumor cells. Mononuclear phagocytes participate in host resistance to Listeria and tumor cells. The purpose of the studies presented here was to determine the effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on macrophage functions and the ability of macrophages to be activated for functions which are important in host defense. Benzene had no effects on macrophage function or activation for any of the functions tested. Conversely, metabolites of benzene, catechol (CAT), hydroquinone (HQ), benzquinone (BQ), and 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) had potent and varied effects on macrophage function and activation. BQ inhibited the broadest range of functions including release of H2O2, Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis, interferon gamma priming for tumor cell cytolysis, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggering of cytolysis. BQ was also the most potent metabolite causing inhibition at lower concentrations than the other metabolites. HQ inhibited H2O2 release and priming for cytolysis and BT inhibited phagocytosis and priming for cytolysis. CAT only inhibited the release of H2O2. None of the compounds tested inhibited the induction of class II histocompatibility antigens on the cell surface. All of the effects measured occurred using concentrations of compounds which did not disrupt the cell integrity or inhibit general functions such as protein synthesis. Taken together these data suggest that benzene metabolites alter macrophage function through several mechanisms including inhibition of output enzymes and disruption of signal transduction systems.