[Effects of pesticides on cytokines production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells--fenitrothion and glyphosate].

In patients with pesticides poisoning, human immune system seems to be damaged. However, the effects of pesticides on human immune system, especially on cytokines production, have not been understood well. We investigated the effects of fenitrothion (MEP), an organophosphorus insecticide, and glyphosate (GLP), a phosphorus containing amino acid-type herbicide, on cytokines production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). MEP inhibited the proliferative activity of PBMC at ranging from 1 to 500 microM in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas GLP had a slight inhibitory effect even at 1000 microM. The production of IFN-gamma and IL-2 was inhibited by MEP in a concentration-dependent manner, but GLP slightly inhibited their production only at 1000 microM. The production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta was not affected by MEP and GLP at the concentrations which significantly inhibited the proliferative activity and T cell-derived cytokine production. MEP inhibited the production of T cell-derived cytokine (IFN-gamma and IL-2), which indicates that MEP might have the potential of immunosuppressive action. On the other hand, GLP might be a pesticide with only a little damage to the immune system, according to the results in cytokines production. These results suggest that pesticides inhibit the immune system differently, and the grasp of immune condition might be useful for the prognostic presumption and the infectious danger of degree in patients with pesticides poisoning.