Effects of occupational metallic mercury vapour exposure on suppressor-inducer (CD4+CD45RA+) T lymphocytes and CD57+CD16+ natural killer cells |
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Authors: | S H Park S Araki A Nakata Y H Kim J A Park T Tanigawa K Yokoyama H Sato |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Public Health and Occupational Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan Tel./Fax: +81-3-3816-4751, JP;(2) Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation, Inchun, Korea, KR;(3) Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Industrial Sciences and Engineering, University of Soon Chun Hyang, Asan-si, Korea, KR |
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Abstract: | Objectives: To examine the effects of metallic mercury vapour on the cellular and humoral immune system. Methods: We measured T lymphocyte and natural killer (NK) cell subpopulations, B lymphocytes, and serum immunoglobulins (i.e. IgG,
IgA and IgM) together with total T (CD3+) lymphocytes and total lymphocytes in blood samples from 20 male, fluorescent-lamp
makers (mercury workers) and the same number of gender-, age- and smoking-matched controls. Urinary concentrations of inorganic
mercury (UHg) in the 20 workers ranged from 1.8 to 163.5 (mean 44.8) μg/l. They had been exposed to mercury vapour for 4 to
62 (mean 31) months. Results: Numbers of CD4+CD45RA+ (suppressor-inducer) T lymphocytes and total CD4+ T lymphocytes in the mercury workers were significantly
smaller than those in the controls (paired-sample t-test, P < 0.01). The number of CD57+CD16+ NK cells was inversely correlated with UHg. Conclusion: It is suggested that numbers of CD4+CD45RA+ T lymphocytes and CD57+CD16+ NK cells are inversely affected by exposure to metallic
mercury vapour in workers, with an average urinary inorganic mercury concentration of 45 μg/l being found.
Received: 7 September 1999 / Accepted: 6 May 2000 |
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Keywords: | Mercury vapour CD4+ T lymphocyte CD4+CD45RA+ T lymphocyte CD57+CD16+ NK cell Occupational exposure |
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