Applied Cell Biology

Induction of immunotoxicity and oxidative stress by imidazole on immune cells

V.Gayathri, P.V. Mohanan

Division of Toxicology, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, (INDIA)

Abstract

Imidazole is a known irritant to rabbit eye and possesses moderate oral toxicity. However Imidazole toxicity to immune cells if any, is unclear therefore needs to be scientifically evaluated. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the immuno-toxicity properties, if any, of imidazole parent compound. The study included assessment of the expression of immune modulatory cytokine mediators using real time PCR from the total RNA, isolated from mixed and T lymphocytes. Nitrosative stress was assessed by Nitric oxide formation. Apoptotic potential of imidazole on T lymphocytes using Annexin V assay kit was carried out using flow cytometer. Higher concentration of imidazole (10mg/ml) showed a significant increase in pro inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1, monocyte chemo attractant protein-1, tumour necrosis factor beta, whereas drastic reduction in anti inflammatory cytokine, interleukin -10 was noted. This study also demonstrated that Imidazole (10 mg/ml) induces mixed and T lymphocyte proliferation byDNAsynthesis significantly. ThemRNA expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases 14 gene, inducible Nitric oxide synthase and Bcl-2–associated X protein were also significantly increased (p<0.01). However, lower concentrations of imidazole did not exhibit such effect on both types of cells. Continuous exposure of workers to imidazole used in industries could suppress the body’s immune system, especially cellular immunity thereby triggering the inflammatory pathway and targeting the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway. These observations are of interest in view of workers in pesticide, pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords:

Imidazole; Splenocytes; T lymphocytes; Cytokines; Oxidative stress; Apoptosis.