![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
Arsine is a toxic gas well known for its potent hemolytic effects. Immunological parameters were examined in groups of female B6C3F1 mice after a 14-day (6 h/day) exposure to air or to 0.5, 2.5, or 5.0 ppm arsine. Arsine induced marked changes in splenic cellular populations. Although there was no effect on the total number of splenic lymphocytes, the percentage of lymphocytes fell significantly in all arsine-exposed groups, from 83.4% in air controls to 45.6% in 5.0 ppm arsine, while there was a concomitant increase in rubricyte percentages. Splenic T-cell percentages were significantly depressed at all arsine concentrations, while the percentages of Bcells were depressed only at 5.0 ppm arsine. Neither the numbers of peritoneal exudate macro-phages nor their function was affected by anine exposure. In vitro analysis showed an arsine concentration-dependent decrease in natural killer cell and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte function. On a per lymphocyte basis, no effects were observed on the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes. Similarly host resistance to challenge with influenza, PYB6 tumor cells, and B16F10 melanoma cells was unaffected by arsine. However, increased susceptibility to Listeria and Plasmodium yoelii was observed. These data suggest that the spleen represents a target of arsine manifested by altered cellular populations. However, the decreases in certain host resistance parameters suggest that arsine exposure also results in immunosuppression, most likely via a cellular redistribution mechanism.