Effect of dietary chronic cadmium exposure on cell-mediated immune response in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were daily exposed orally to cadmium (Cd) at 5 mg/kg body wt in diet for a period of 2 and 6 months. Significant amount of Cd accumulated in liver, kidney and spleen after its exposure to monkeys. Cell mediated immune response was assessed by the responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Even after 6 months of exposure, Cd increased DNA synthesis, although not significantly, in unstimulated and mitogen stimulated lymphocytes. Stimulation Index (SI), however, decreased largely due to increased unstimulated [( 3H]thymidine incorporation) observed after Cd exposure. It, therefore, indicates that Cd is not immunosuppressive in primates, phylogenetically closer to humans.