An immunological study on patients with chronic cadmium disease

Parameters of humoral and cellular immunity were investigated in patients with chronic cadmium (Cd) disease and compared to values in an age matched control group. In the patient group, there was a slight reduction in WBC although T and B lymphocyte ratios were normal. RBC counts were significantly reduced (P less than 0.05). No significant differences in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations were found. Blood Cd was significantly raised (P less than 0.001) and urine Cd was elevated. In lymphocyte transformation tests, responses to Staphylococcus aureus, PHA and PPD were not impaired and no evidence of Cd hypersensitivity was found. Responses in PHA and ADCC cytotoxicity tests were normal and nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction was only slightly decreased in the patient group. beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2M) was significantly raised in serum (P less than 0.001) and urine (P less than 0.001) of patients. Patient 3 day lymphocyte cultures produced significantly more beta 2M than cultures from the control group (P less than 0.01). beta 2M was increased in lymphocyte cultures, from patient and control groups, containing PHA (P less than 0.01), low Cd concentrations (P less than 0.01) or PPD. The results indicate that chronic Cd disease is not associated with significant alterations in immunological parameters in vitro. The high beta 2M levels associated with this disease may not result entirely from kidney damage but may in part be due to an increase in the release of beta 2M from cells, induced by Cd.