INFLAMMATORY AND REDOX CHANGES IN MICE CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO LINDANE IN DRINKING WATER

"Background. Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide considered as Persistent Organic Pollutant with immunosuppressive effects in acute exposure, but data on chronic exposure to low doses are still inconclusive. Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate immune and redox changes in mice chronically exposed to low doses of lindane. Experimental setting. Mice were chronically exposed for 6 months to lindane (5 mg/L) in drinking water, and subsequently a subgroup was challenged orally with S. typhimurium. The inflammatory factors MMP-9, IL-6 and KC, along with the antioxidant GSH were assessed in lungs, livers and kidneys. Splenocytes were stimulated ex vivo with TLR2 or TLR4 agonists, and the levels of released IL-6, IFNγ, TNFα and KC were measured in cell supernatants. Results. A decrease of IL-6 and MMP-9 lung levels and decreased IL-6 production by LPS-activated splenocytes from lindane-exposed mice were evidenced as compared to control groups. A slight increase of MMP-9, IL-6 and KC levels, and a decrease of GSH were observed in the liver of lindane exposed mice, while increased GSH levels were registered in infected lindane-exposed mice. Infection generally delivered stronger signals then lindane, but an immunomodulatory effect of lindane was shown in particular cases in splenocytes from infected lindane-exposed mice. Conclusion. Chronic exposure of mice to a low dose of lindane delivered in drinking water can induce both systemic immune suppression related to particular inflammatory factors, and inflammation, depending on the organ. Moreover, some immunomodulatory effects of lindane were highlighted in particular experimental settings."