Orally Administered Bisphenol A Disturbed Antigen Specific Immunoresponses in the Naïve Condition

Abstract

Bisphenol A [2,2-bis(4-hydoxyphenyl)propane; BPA] is an endocrine disrupter widely used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. We investigated the effects of orally administered BPA on antigen-specific responses of the naïve immune system.

BPA was orally administered to T cell receptor transgenic mice, and the antigen-specific responses of immune cells were investigated. Administered BPA moderately reduced interleukin (IL)-2, 4, and interferon (IFN)-γ secretion and increases in IgA and IgG2a production.

Additionally, it was found that orally administered BPA increased antigen-specific IFN-γ production of T cells and modified whole antigen presenting cells (APCs) to suppress antigen-specific cytokine production from T cells.

These findings suggest that BPA can augment the Th1-type responses of naïve immune systems, though the bioavailability of orally administered BPA was low in our experiments.

• bisphenol A
• naïve immune responses
• Th1/2-balance
• oral administration