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Imazalil at high plasma concentrations: implications for neutrophil immunophenotype
Wioletta Ratajczak-Wrona1, Malgorzata Rusak2, Olga Diana Drezek1
1Department of Immunology, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
Journal of Immunotoxicology
|May 21, 2026
Summary
Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical imazalil alters neutrophil immune cell markers. This fungicide exposure may impair neutrophil functions like adhesion and phagocytosis, potentially increasing susceptibility to infections.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Neutrophil functions are regulated by membrane receptors, crucial for immune responses.
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can impact immune function, particularly neutrophil activity.
- Imazalil (IMZ), an EDC, acts as an androgen receptor antagonist on neutrophils.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of imazalil and testosterone on CD molecule expression in neutrophils.
- To assess how imazalil influences key neutrophil functions via immunophenotype modulation.
Main Methods:
- Whole blood from healthy men was used.
- Plasma imazalil concentrations were measured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Neutrophils were incubated with imazalil (28 ng/ml) or physiological testosterone concentrations, followed by flow cytometry analysis of CD molecule expression.
Main Results:
- Imazalil exposure increased neutrophils expressing CD14, CD66b, CD62L, and CD284.
- Imazalil decreased neutrophils expressing CD10, CD11c, CD15, CD49d, HLA-DR, and MPO.
- Testosterone did not alter the expression of analyzed CD molecules on neutrophils.
Conclusions:
- Imazalil significantly modulates the neutrophil immunophenotype.
- These changes may inhibit essential neutrophil functions, including adhesion, migration, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis.
- Exposure to imazalil could increase vulnerability to innate immunity disorders.
