Failure of inorganic lead exposure to impair natural killer (NK) cell and T lymphocyte function in rats

Natural killer (NK)-cell and T-cell functions have been measured in rats following exposure to either 100 or 1000 ppm lead as lead acetate in drinking water. The capacity of splenocytes isolated from exposed animals to mediate native and interferon (IFN)-activated natural cytotoxicity was measured at three effector:target-cell ratios and found to be normal at all time points examined. Furthermore, splenic T-cell function of treated animals as determined by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation was comparable to control values. We conclude that low-level lead exposure is not associated with an impairment of either T-or NK-cell function.