Effects of long-term high-level lead exposure on the immune function of workers

Abstract

This work was undertaken to study the immunomodulatory effects of long-term exposure to varying levels of lead (Pb) in workers. A total of 49 people who underwent occupational health examinations from 2009 to 2018 were selected as study subjects. Differences between the two group populations regarding the levels of T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and granulocytes, as well as the levels of T_H1/T_H2/T_H17 cytokines, were evaluated. The results indicated that the percentages of CD3⁺ cells in the high-Pb group were significantly higher than those in the low-Pb counterparts (p < .05). In contrast, the percentages of CD3⁻CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells were significantly lower in the high-Pb workers. There were no significant differences in other immunommy cells and T_H1/T_H2/T_H17 cytokine between the groups. CD3⁺ cell levels in workers positively correlated with blood Pb levels (Rs = 0.378, p = .007), while the expression of CD3⁻CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells was negatively correlated (Rs = −0.320, p = .025). There was no significant correlation between blood Pb concentration and the other immune endpoints evaluated here.

Keywords:

• Cytokines
• immune function
• lead poisoning
• lymphocyte subsets

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Jiangsu Provincial Preventive Medicine Association Project [Y2018056] and the Jiangsu Provincial Youth Medical Talent Program [QNRC2016528].