SUPPRESSION OF INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA BIOSYNTHESIS BY CADMIUM IN IN-VITRO ACTIVATED HUMAN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

Cadmium is a highly toxic element responsible for acute and chronic to xicity in man. There is evidence that cadmium induces pathophysiologic al effects by modulating components of the immune system. Cytokines ar e being increasingly recognized as essential mediators of normal and p athologic immune responses. Cadmium at concentrations varying from 1.0 x10(-4) to 3.3x10(-6) M inhibited the phytohemagglutinin induced produ ction of interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, in in vi tro activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The messenger RNA levels of interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were examined during a 24-h culture period, at different time points. The decreased messenger RNA levels at the time points of the maximum expre ssion of interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha indicate that cadmium suppresses their production at the transcriptional level.