Ammonium perfluorooctanoate substantially alters phenotype and cytokine secretion of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) are commercially used for their surfactant properties combined with chemical and thermal stability. Differentiation of peripheral monocytes to immature dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of the PFCA, ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO, 200 μM) led to a considerably increased expression of CD86 and HLA-DR on immature DCs. However, these phenotypic changes were not reflected by an increased T cell-stimulatory capacity of the cells. Notably, activated, fully mature APFO-treated DCs secreted significantly less IL-12 and IL-10 than control cells. Thus, APFO at non-cytotoxic concentration affects the phenotype and cytokine secretion of human DCs.

Keywords::

• Dendritic cells
• ammonium perfluorooctanoate
• perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid
• APFO
• PFCA.

Declaration of Interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.