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

• Published in: Archives of environmental & occupational health Vol. 77; no. 4; pp. 301 - 308
• Main Authors: Dou, Jianrui, Zhou, Le, Zhao, Yi, Jin, Wu, Shen, Huanxi, Zhang, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 21.04.2022
• Subjects: B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Granulocytes - immunology; Humans; immune function; Immunity - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Lead - toxicity; lead poisoning; lymphocyte subsets; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; lymphocyte subsets; lead poisoning; Cytokines; immune function
• ISSN: 1933-8244; 2154-4700; 2154-4700
• DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2021.1893632

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 H 1/T H 2/T H 17 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 H 1/T H 2/T H 17 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.