TITLE:
Studies of lead toxicity on inflammatory damage and innate immune functions in testicular macrophages of male Swiss albino mice
AUTHORS:
Shamim Ahmed S.K. Barbhuiya, Sumana Chakraborty, Mahuya Sengupta
KEYWORDS:
Lead; Phagocytosis; Intracellular Killing; Scanning Electron Microscopy; Proinflammatory Cytokines
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Research in Inflammation,
Vol.2 No.4,
November
18,
2013
ABSTRACT: Immune infertility has
gained impetus in recent years. Various scientific studies have been carried out
on the toxic effects of lead on immune function;
however, uncertainties still persist. The present study addresses the immunomodulatory
effects of testicular macrophages caused due to lead exposure (in-vivo). In mice, lead has a primary effect
on the testes, and acts at all levels of the reproductive as well as the testicular
immune response. The study was undertaken to investigate the effects of lead acetate
on immune system in Swiss albino mice and the underlying mechanism of pro-inflammatory
cytokine action. The immunomodulatory effects of lead are complex and appear to
involve multiple pathways, not all of which are fully understood. Testicular macrophage dysfunctions by lead was
studied by calculating morphological alteration and associated cell functions of
innate immunity followed by estimation of pro-inflammatory cytokine release (TNF-α). The present work shows that lead is responsible for a significant morphological
alteration, reducing cell function in testicular macrophages probably by
increasing oxidative damage whereas increase in TNF-α release was also observed which increased inflammation. Results demonstrated
that lead intoxication leads to increase in pro-inflammatory response. TNF-α is probably unable to bind with the surface
receptor in testicular macrophages because of altered morphology which reduces cell function and ultimately causes
reproductive dysfunction.